If you are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), consider getting a blood test to measure your Vitamin D levels. The authors of this study also commented on weight gain and carpal tunnel nerve pain with Vitamin D deficiency. Other studies show that excess body mass leads to more carpal tunnel release surgeries as well. A body mass index (BMI) of 30 and over is considered obese, and really increases your chances of these kinds of problems. If you want to calculate your BMI, here is a calculator. All you need is your height and weight, and you can find out what category you fit into.
J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2016 Nov 21;29(4):835-839.
Tanik N
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Vitamin D deficiencies are associated with a variety of chronic diseases. The goal of the present study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
METHODS:
This study included 90 patients with mild to moderate CTS and assessed their routine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Additionally, the pain level of each subject was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale and the Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questionnaire (DN4).
RESULTS:
The severity levels of CTS were at a 75% mild level in the vitamin D deficiency group and a 47.1% mild level in the vitamin D normal group, with a significant difference between groups (p = 0.008). Correlation analyses revealed positive correlations between body mass index and DN4 scores (r = 0.499, p = 0.025) and between vitamin D levels and CTS severity (r = 0.364, p = 0.004) in the vitamin D deficiency group.
CONCLUSIONS:
The present findings demonstrated that CTS may be triggered by vitamin D deficiency, and that the severity of CTS was correlated with vitamin D levels in the deficiency group. Additionally, there was a correlation between weight gain and neuropathic pain intensity in CTS patients with vitamin D deficiency. The present findings indicate that vitamin D levels should be assessed in CTS patients.