Pain or tingling that may travel up the forearm toward the shoulder.Occasional shock-like sensations that radiate to the thumb and index, middle, and ring fingers.Numbness, tingling, burning, and pain - primarily in the thumb and index, middle, and ring fingers. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may include: Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid gland imbalance are conditions that are associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause swelling that results in pressure on the nerve. Doing activities that involve extreme flexion or extension of the hand and wrist for a prolonged period of time can increase pressure on the nerve. Repeating the same hand and wrist motions or activities over a prolonged period of time may aggravate the tendons in the wrist, causing swelling that puts pressure on the nerve. The carpal tunnel may be naturally smaller in some people, or there may be anatomic differences that change the amount of space for the nerve - and these traits can run in families. Other risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include: Studies show that women and older people are more likely to develop the condition. Most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are caused by a combination of factors. These tendons are called flexor tendons because they flex the fingers and thumb. The nine tendons that bend the fingers and thumb also travel through the carpal tunnel with the nerve. The median nerve also controls the muscles around the base of the thumb. These nerves allow for feeling in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger (the thumb side). It separates into several smaller nerves along the way, particularly once it reaches the palm. The median nerve travels down the upper arm, across the elbow, and into the forearm, then passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist on its way to the hand and fingers. It originates as a group of nerve roots in the neck these roots then come together to form a single nerve in the arm. The median nerve is one of the main nerves in the hand. Because these boundaries are very rigid, the carpal tunnel has little capacity to stretch or increase in size. The roof of the tunnel is a strong band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. Rosemont, IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009 7(5). Reproduced and adapted from Rodner C, Raissis A, Akelman E: Carpal tunnel syndrome. To prevent permanent damage, surgery to take pressure off the median nerve may be recommended for some patients. If pressure on the median nerve continues, however, it can lead to nerve damage and worsening symptoms.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |