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What is carpal tunnel?

by Dr. Wendy/Hayden Health
| March 19, 2014 9:00 PM

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed between the displaced bones of the wrist. Nerve signals originate in the brain and follow tracts down the spinal cord through openings between the cervical vertebrae in your neck. The nerves then travel down the arm and into the hand. At the wrist, a semicircular tunnel allows the nerves to travel through the highly mobile wrist area. The tunnel is a narrow and rigid passageway of ligaments and bones at the wrist, and contains the median nerve and tendons. The tunnel deforms when there is sprain or damage to the ligaments, allowing the bones to move away from their normal positions.

There are also other causes for compression, such as inflammation. When the nerve is compressed or irritated at both the wrist and neck area, it is called a double crush injury.

The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, except the little finger and some small muscles that move the fingers and thumb. Neck problems (herniated disc, pinched nerve, sprains, etc.) can also cause similar symptoms in the hand. When carpal tunnel syndrome strikes, the result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist. Sometimes, the pain runs from the wrist and back up the forearm.

Thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be pinched. This is why sometimes anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen will decrease the pain. These medications never get at the cause of why there is inflammation in the first place.

Many patients believe surgery will help their condition. It is important to make sure a comprehensive diagnosis is obtained prior to contemplating surgery. If the problem is an irritated nerve in the neck, no amount of wrist surgery will help that type of problem. Conservative treatment such as chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and cold laser are excellent options for CTS.

For more information, contact Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.