HONOLULU (KHON2) -- If you’re among the thousands of people who sit at a computer all day, you may be at risk of developing hand or wrist problems such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. KHON2’s Jodi Leong discussed carpal tunnel with Dr. Geraldine Faivre, a neurologist at The Queen's Medical Center-West Oahu. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You “It’s a compression of the medial nerve at the wrist. The carpal tunnel is located at the wrist, between the bones and tendons. And the medial nerve goes through that. It can decompress, which will cause numbness, tingling in the first three fingers. Some people will have tingling and numbness in the whole hand or up to the elbow,” said Faivre. When should you get a colonoscopy screening? Carpal tunnel is caused by using your hands too much. “It can be while you’re typing, brushing your hair, or extending your wrists for prolonged periods of time,” said Faivre. “Also, repetitive movements, using vibration tools, hormonal changes such as diabetes, thyroid issues, obesity, even pregnancy. And if you’ve had a wrist injury, trauma, fracture, or rheumatologic diseases – you could develop carpal tunnel.” And don’t forget to take breaks. “I would say, don’t wait until it hurts. If it hurts, you probably already have carpal tunnel. Be aware of your posture. It’s not just the hand, but it’s also the head, the neck, the back. You can also prevent some back pain. You can also find some ergonomic tools that will prevent you from extending your wrist for too long. And then take a break, maybe every two hours, and it’s good to stretch your legs anyway,” said Faivre. Dr. Faivre also recommends being aware of your posture and avoid putting your hand in a prolonged extension or flexion. “So, when you’re working, maybe use some ergonomic tools like a mouse of keyboard that are adapted for carpal tunnel, and take some breaks. When you’re driving, pay attention to how you place your hand on the wheel and avoid extending or flexing your hand for too long. If it’s not enough, you can use a brace or a wrist splint,” added Faivre. Check out what's going on around the nation on our National News page Other options include a steroid injection in the wrist and surgical decompression. To learn more about the services provided by Queen’s-West Neuroscience Institute, call (808) 691-3135.