Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ?

The most common cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is repetitive stress, hand and wrist activity. There are a wide variety of repetitive hand use patterns that result in swelling of the soft tissue and tendons in the hand and wrist. Each individual’s hand use pattern is completely unique. Yet, soft tissue swelling is common to all CTS cases and causes external pressure on the blood vessels, tendons and nerves which pass through the hand and wrist. The median nerve is particularly vulnerable to external pressure because it passes directly through a narrow passage at the base of the hand called the Carpal Tunnel.

The external pressure crowds the narrow passage compressing the median nerve against the carpal ligament, as well as tendons and arteries which also pass through the carpal tunnel. Impinging the nerve in this narrow passage, results in symptoms ranging from tingling numbness, to loss of feeling in fingers and thumb, intense pain and hand dysfunction.

Often people suffering from the early stages of Carpal Tunnel Strain will think they are sleeping in a position that cuts off blood circulation to the hand. However, if sleep interruption becomes routine from numb, tingling hands; then there is a high probability that you are suffering from the early stages of Carpal Tunnel Strain. Carpal Tunnel Strain will lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome if left unchecked.

Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome can be confirmed by performing certain tests to detect impairment of the median nerve. Some of the tests are quite subjective and require feedback from the patient to help with the diagnosis; others are purely scientific in nature, but more invasive and time consuming. Your physician will guide you based on your specific conditions as to what is the most appropriate for you.

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