Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a much-seen medical condition in which the hand and arm become uncomfortable. The symptoms often include a tingling sensation and numbness in the narrow passageway of of the wrist, at the side of the palm. To understand everything you need to know about carpal tunnel syndrome you need to understand wrist anatomy and which repeated movements of the hand can do to cause the disorder.

Symptoms of CTS

The first noticeable symptoms of this condition are not always quite obvious or noticeable. They start gradually to be noticed because of a slight discomfort. It may include tingling or numbness in and around the thumb, middle and index fingers. At this stage the sensation is not persistent nor is it very extreme, merely a slight intermittent discomfort.

Later, the condition may escalate to a tingling in the palm and wrist. In some cases, the the feeling can start to travel up the arm when the hand is in a gripping position like you would if you were holding a newspaper, phone, or steering wheel. A natural reflex reaction will be to shake your hands in an attempt to relieve the symptoms like you would do if your hand fell asleep.

Another common symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome is a weakness in the hand and the inability to hold onto objects. The weakness is believed to originate around the hand’s median nerve, causing the muscles to go numb.

Causes of CTS

As you learn everything you need to know about carpal tunnel syndrome, you’ll quickly realize that the primary cause of the condition is pressure that is exerted onto the median nerve, which, as stated, travels from the forearm through the wrist to the hand. This nerve is responsible for the sensation in your palms and fingers as well as controls your motor functions in that area.

When the nerve is squeezed or irritated, you develop carpal tunnel. While understanding how the nerve is affected is important, finding out what caused the pressure may not always be so easy. There are a number of things that can aggravate the condition and lead to nerve damage:

  • Some people have smaller carpal tunnels (women) causing more pressure on the nerve.
  • A fracture of the wrist, dislocation, or deforming arthritis could add more pressure.
  • Illnesses like diabetes can also put you at a higher risk of carpal tunnel pressure.
  • Inflammation from arthritic conditions can have an effect on the lining around the tendons increasing the pressure.
  • Other conditions may include obesity, imbalance of body fluids, and workplace conditions.

There are many ways carpal tunnel syndrome treatment options that range from nonsurgical therapies like wrist splinting, NSAIDs, and corticosteroids. Often, as a last resort, surgical treatment may be recommended for the most severe cases. The goal is to reduce the pressure on the never by cutting the ligament.

Once you know everything you need to know about carpal tunnel syndrome, you will understand the different strategies you can use to relieve your suffering.