Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a pinched nerve (called the Median nerve) in the wrist. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the inflammatory disorder that is caused due to repetitive stress, physical injury or any other condition that causes the tissues around the median nerve to inflated.
Actually carpal tunnel is a small canal or tunnel runs from the forearm through the wrist. Bones form three walls of the tunnel, which are bridged by strong, broad ligament.The median nerve passes through this tunnel, which actually supplies feeling to the thumb, index, and ring fingers, the nine tendons that flex the fingers and also provides function for the thenar muscles, which are actually the muscles at the base of the thumb.
When the protective lining of the tendons within the carpal tunnel inflamed and swell or when the ligament that forms the roof becomes thicker and broader leads to Carpal Tunnell Syndrome. The result is compression on median nerve fibers due to the swollen tendons and thickened ligaments; there will be slow down in the transmission of the nerve signals through this carpal tunnel.
This ultimately results in pain, numbness, and tingling sensation in the wrist, hand, and fingers leaving the little finger, as it not affected by the median nerve which is nothing but the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Fig- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Carpal tunnel syndrome is also categorized as repetitive stress injuries, cumulative trauma disorder, overuse syndromes, chronic upper limb pain syndrome, or repetitive motion disorders which are all associated generally with repetitive and forceful use of the hands that damages the muscles and bones.
Many believe that constant repetitive use of the hand causes the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is referred to as repetitive or accumulative trauma disorders. This results in wrist pain and numbness to the thumb and first two fingers.