Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

It is a condition where the median nerve is compressed by a ligament as it goes through the wrist resulting in the pain, numbness, and tingling of the hand.

Women are twice as likely to develop CTS than men.

Causes:

• A common cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome includes repetitive movements such as flexion/extension of the wrist during activities like reading and typing.
• Other factors that may influence CTS are wrist fractures, underlying nerve dysfunctions, Rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.
• It can also happen after a car accident when a driver is bracing for an impending impact. By holding strongly to the steering wheel.

Symptoms:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is characterized by pain, numbness, and tingling usually felt on the palm or palmar side of the pointer, middle, and ring finger.

Other indicators include weak grip, feelings of a swelling hand, or atrophy of hand muscles.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be diagnosed using a patient’s history and a physical exam, sometimes an electromyography and nerve conduction velocity test is used in addition to the other diagnostic methods.

• Tinel’s sign: light tapping over the nerve creates a tingling in the thumb, pointer, or middle finger.
• Phalen’s sign: patient is asked to rest elbow on a table and hold maximum wrist flexion for at least a minute, describing any sensations they feel.