Do you spend hours in front of the computer and get numbness or pain on your palms or fingers? If yes, you are suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

It is a condition wherein the median nerve gets compressed below the carpel tunnel at the wrist. City doctors warn that with the excessive use of computers and the booming IT industry, the number of youngsters suffering from this problem has increased.

Dr Harish Chandran, consultant, orthopaedic and sports medicine, said, “In a month we get at least 10 to 15 cases whereas two years back it were hardly four to five cases a month.

Most of them come to us at a much later stage in acute conditions as the symptoms are taken casually in the beginning,” he said. “Most of the cases are in the age group of 25 to 35 years.”

Dr A.G. Sajan Gerome, consultant Orthopaedic, Jubilee Memorial Hospital, said CTS was traditionally associated with women.

The treatment starts with rest and exercises, the second step involves vitamin B12 tablets and some may need steroids. In most cases the condition improves with these treatment methods and very few require surgery.

If left untreated the condition can affect hand movements and muscles.