The carpal tunnel is the passageway in the wrist and is made up of the
arching carpal bones (eight bones in the wrist) and the ligament connecting the
pillars of the arch (the transverse carpal ligament). The median nerve and the
tendons that connect the fingers to the muscles of the forearm pass through the
tightly spaced tunnel.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes pinched due to swelling of the nerve or tendons or both. The median nerve provides sensation to the palm side of the thumb, index, middle fingers, as well as the inside half of the ring finger and muscle power to the thumb. When this nerve becomes pinched, numbness, tingling, and sometimes pain of the affected fingers and hand may occur and radiate into the forearm.
While there are many possible causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, the vast majority of people with the condition have no known cause.
However, we do know that excessive repetitive movements of the arms, wrists, or hands can aggravate the structures of the carpal tunnel, triggering the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Untreated, this can become chronic, but when detected early, carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated more easily and recovery is possible in a few months. Severe carpal tunnel syndrome can also be treated, but recovery may take up to a year or longer and may not be complete.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes pinched due to swelling of the nerve or tendons or both. The median nerve provides sensation to the palm side of the thumb, index, middle fingers, as well as the inside half of the ring finger and muscle power to the thumb. When this nerve becomes pinched, numbness, tingling, and sometimes pain of the affected fingers and hand may occur and radiate into the forearm.
While there are many possible causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, the vast majority of people with the condition have no known cause.
However, we do know that excessive repetitive movements of the arms, wrists, or hands can aggravate the structures of the carpal tunnel, triggering the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Untreated, this can become chronic, but when detected early, carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated more easily and recovery is possible in a few months. Severe carpal tunnel syndrome can also be treated, but recovery may take up to a year or longer and may not be complete.
