carpal tunnel Related Resources & Guides

General Note On Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you have been experiencing numbness, tingling or pain in your hand and wrist, you may be having fleeting thoughts that carpal tunnel syndrome may be to blame. The name of this syndrome is often used to describe any number of similar problems with the wrists. To find out if you really have carpal tunnel syndrome or one of the other conditions, it is best to see your doctor. Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve becomes compressed at the wrist. This nerve runs right down the center of your wrist into your palm and controls sensations to your first three fingers and your thumb. This nerve has to pass through a narrow passageway known as the carpal tunnel. The passageway is made of bones and ligaments at the base of your palm. Several tendons also run through this passageway. When the tendons become swollen or thickened, it can cause the nerve to become compressed. This may cause pain, numbness or weakness in your hand and wrist, and sometimes these feelings radiate up the arm as well.