What Is Carpal Tunnel? What Causes It?
Odds are you’ve already heard of carpal tunnel syndrome, but few know the exact anatomy at play in this common condition. Carpal tunnel syndrome (often shortened to CTS) happens when the median nerve is compressed.
The median nerve is the main nerve that delivers sensation to your fingers, and it runs through a narrow passageway called the carpal tunnel. As you might infer, when this nerve is restricted, it impacts the sensation, strength, and flexibility of your fingers, leading to CTS
Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Anyone can experience carpal tunnel syndrome, but certain situations or conditions make it more likely to develop:
- Repetitive movements: This is perhaps the most common cause of CTS. Individuals who have to use repetitive wrist motions – such as when throwing during certain sport or when typing/scrolling at a computer – are at increased risk.
- Age and gender: Carpal tunnel syndrome is most common among people between the ages of 40 and 60, and women are much more likely to develop CTS than men.
- Pregnancy: Some women develop carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy due to hormone fluctuations and fluid retention, which can put more pressure on the median nerve.
- Genetics: If you have a family history of CTS, you may be more likely to develop it yourself
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome and should consider connecting with an orthopaedic surgeon:
- Numbness in your fingers: The median nerve specifically connects to the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger. Therefore, if you feel numbness or tingling in these fingers, it could be a sign of CTS.
- General pain in the hand or wrist: For some, carpal tunnel syndrome doesn’t just manifest as numbness, but as outright pain or discomfort. You may feel this throughout your hand, wrist, or both.
- Hand weakness and poor grip strength: Patients with CTS often struggle to grab items due to their numb fingers. If you notice you have poor grip strength or you’re dropping things more frequently than usual, if may be time for an exam.
Minimally Invasive Carpal Tunnel Treatment in El Paso, TX
While some of the symptoms above may sound mild, the pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome can become quite intense if untreated. Additionally, given how frequently we use our hands in everyday tasks, even slight weakness or numbness can become debilitating.
If you suspect your have carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor will begin with a thorough exam to confirm your diagnosis. From there, they’ll likely suggest one of the following treatment options:
- Wrist splinting: This keeps your hand and wrist aligned in a way that puts less pressure on the median nerve.
- Hand and wrist therapy/exercises: Certain exercises can help reduce pressure on the median nerve and the carpal tunnel. You may also need to implement general lifestyle changes, like taking breaks from typing or sports, to reduce your reliance on repetitive wrist movements.
- Medications: Anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce swelling in your hand and wrist, giving your median nerve the greater flexibility it needs.
- Corticosteroid injections: These injections are a more intense means of reducing inflammation in your wrist and hand, addressing the pain associated with CTS.
- Surgery (Carpal Tunnel Release): If any of the above treatments don’t resolve your pain, an orthopaedic surgeon may recommend carpal tunnel release. This is a very common surgery where the transverse carpal ligament (located on the roof of the carpal tunnel) is cut. This leaves more room for your median nerve in the tunnel.