Overview
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that usually starts gradually and includes the following symptoms: pain and weakness in the fingers or hand. Usually the thumb and index, middle or ring fingers are affected (not your pinky). It happens when the area around the main nerve to your hand is too tight. The nerve is called the median nerve. And the small space in your wrist where it passes is called the carpal tunnel.
Pain, numbness and tingling in your hand may be from carpal tunnel syndrome. It happens when the area around the main nerve to your hand is too tight. The nerve is called the median nerve. And the small space in your wrist where it passes is called the carpal tunnel.
Causes
Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in anyone, regardless of their age, and can be from a variety of reasons:
- You utilize your hands, forearms, and wrists often during your day the carpal tunnel in your wrist is smaller than normal, making it more prone to getting compressed.
- Anything that squeezes or irritates the median nerve in the carpal tunnel space, such as a wrist fracture.
- You have a medical condition like thyroid gland imbalance, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
What you need to know
The median nerve is located in the forearm and travels into the palm to the base of the thumb. It is responsible for the mobility of the muscles in the forearms and hands. The nerve controls muscles involved in writing, typing, making a fist, and bending/rotating the wrist. The median nerve runs through a tunnel located in the wrist, called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve can be inflamed or compressed in the tunnel. This can cause pain, discomfort, and swelling in the forearm, wrist, and hand. Your hand’s mobility may be compromised as well. This condition is called carpal tunnel syndrome. At Interventional Pain Doctors, our Los Angeles arm and hand pain specialists can diagnose your condition and help relieve the median nerve of the strain it experiences, thereby treating carpal tunnel syndrome.
