Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ( CTS ) is a painful and often completely debilitating nerve problem the interferes with the use of your hand. The nerve that is commonly involved is the Median Nerve. It is thought that this nerve does not function properly due to pressure and or compression of the nerve as it crosses into the Wrist through an opening called the Carpal Tunnel. This compression or pressure can also be cause by inflammation and thickening of the tendons and ligaments of the wrist and hand.

The Median Nerve travels off the Spinal Cord in the Neck area and traverses down the arm and into the hand. This nerve tends to supply sensation to the thumb, index finger, long finger, and half of the ring finger. The Nerve also supplies a branch to the muscles of the thumb known as the Thenar Muscles.

The Carpal Tunnel is an opening into the hand that is made up of Eight Bones of the wrist on the bottom and the Transverse Carpal Ligament on the Top. The Median Nerve travels through this opening called the Carpal Tunnel along with the Flexor Tendons. These Tendons allow us to move and bend our fingers in order to grasp objects. Tendons are covered with tenosynovium is a slippery material which allows the tendons to glide against each other and to minimize friction. If the tendons become irritated, they may swell and thicken. As this occurs, pressure may increase and the median nerve may become compressed. Once there is Nerve Compression, the nerve will NO longer function normally. This may cause a variety of symptoms such as: Numbness and Tingling, wrist pain and or weakness of the wrist and hand. In severe cases, the muscles of the hand may atrophy ( start to die off ) and surgery may become necessary.

There are many conditions that may cause CTS. Often it is a result of over use due to repetitive movements of the Hand and Wrist. This generally results in irritation and inflammation of the tendons and muscles of the wrist. If the inflammation persists, the tendons may thicken and compress the Median Nerve at the Carpal Tunnel. Arthritis in the Bones of the wrist and hand may also cause a variety of inflammatory processes to occur. Fractures of the wrist can lead to irritation of the flexor tendons and later develop into an arthritic condition or loss of normal movement of the bones of the wrist. Once the Median nerve is compressed, symptoms may appear. Common symptoms often include numbness and tingling along with generalized wrist aches and pain. If weakness occurs, the nerve compression may be so severe that surgery to release the direct nerve pressure may become necessary.

Wear and tear can be caused by repetitive hand movements. The skyrocketing of computerized technology has brought with it a large increase in CTS cases, in addition to keyboard related occupations. There are a wide variety of jobs that require repetitive hand movements causing CTS. Some of these include: Cooks, Cashiers, Assembly Line Workers, Industrial Textile Employees, Construction Workers, Chiropractors, Plumbers, as well as Sports Activities such as tennis, Golf, Baseball, and Hundreds of other activities and jobs that involve impact to the wrist and hand. Trauma is also a common factor in the development of CTS. Additional cause and complications that may lead to CTS:

Fluid retention: Fluid retention ( Edema ) can cause the tissues in the Carpal Tunnel to swell and press on the Median nerve.

Other Factors: Pregnancy, obesity, muscle hypertrophy, oral contraceptives and ganglion cysts to name a few!!