Aches and pains, numb hands & tingling – all signs & symptoms of nerve condition which left Paul Hollywood ‘terrified’
CELEBRITY baker Paul Hollywood has opened up about his battle with a nerve condition that left him "terrified".
The Bake Off star revealed that his discomfort became so great it almost ended his career in the kitchen.
Paul is now seeking to raise awareness about the issue, which is believed to affect as much as 5% of the UK's adult population.
He told The Graham Norton Show: "I've got carpal tunnel syndrome in both my wrists, it's severe.
"It was diagnosed about four years ago.
"I went to speak to a consultant about it and he said 'Listen, you're going to have to have an operation'.
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"I don't actually bake as much hands-on as I used to, I miss it.
"But now I've sort of stopped baking as much as I used to, it's actually alleviated a lot of the pain."
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when something places pressure on the nerve that runs through your wrist and into your hand.
This is often caused by swelling related to things like changes in weight, pregnancy and long periods of gripping tightly.
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It can also be a result of wrist injuries or conditions like arthritis and diabetes.
The NHS lists several symptoms which could be warning signs of CTS.
These are:
- An ache or pain in your fingers, hand or arm
- Numb hands
- Tingling or pins and needles
- A weak thumb or difficulty gripping
Symptoms often get worse at night, the webpage adds.
You can usually treat CTS yourself by avoiding strenuous activity, using hand flexibility exercises and wearing a wrist brace.
However, if your symptoms do not improve or get worse, you may need to consider surgery.
This involves a short operation, cutting into your hand and cutting the carpal tunnel to alleviate the pressure on the nerve.