Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician ... Adding Quality to Life
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
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The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician ... Adding Quality to Life |
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Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder
in which the
median nerve is compressed at the wrist causing
symptoms like tingling, pain, coldness, and sometimes weakness in parts of
the hand. It is the most famous of a class of disorders called
repetitive strain injuries.Anatomy: The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel, a canal in the wrist that is surrounded by bone on three sides, and a fibrous sheath (the flexor retinaculum) on the other. As well as the nerve, many of the hand's tendons pass through this canal. The median nerve can be compressed by swelling of the contents of the canal, or by direct pressure from part of a broken or dislocated bone.Incidence: The syndrome is much more common in women than it is in men.Symptoms:The first symptoms usually appear at night. Symptoms range from a burning, tingling numbness in the fingers (especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers) to difficulty gripping, making a fist, or dropping things.Causes: Some cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are due to work-related cumulative trauma of the wrist. It is commonly caused by strain placed on the hand, for instance gripping and typing, which are usually performed repetitively in a person's occupation.
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