The natural history of carpal tunnel syndrome in lactation.

In a retrospective postal study of 27 women who have developed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in the puerperium, the condition was found to affect predominantly elderly primiparous women (mean age 31.5 years). The condition was associated with breastfeeding in 24 women. The three who did not breastfeed had less severe symptoms which resolved within one month of onset. The symptoms developed a mean of 3.5 weeks following delivery, lasted 6.5 months and started to resolve within 14 days of weaning. Symptomatic treatments with either splintage, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroid injections provided some benefit. Two patients required surgical decompression. All patients were symptom-free by one year.