Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Repetitive Strain Syndrome

This is for your information only.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway of ligaments and bones at the base of the hand/wrist, which houses the median nerve and tendons. If the available space for the nerve to pass is reduced by thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel a compression of the median nerve occurs leading to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), also known as repetitive Strain Syndrome.

Symptoms

CTS is characterised by numbness, tingling and pain in the thumb and fingers of the hand, and in some cases the ability to grip with the hand is significantly reduced. Women are 3 times more likely than men to develop CTS, possibly because the carpal tunnel is more commonly smaller in women than men.

Causes

• Trauma or injury to the wrist that cause swelling, such as sprain or fracture.
• Overuse of the wrist.
• Fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause.
• Pathologies such as Diabetes / Overactive Pituitary gland / Hypothyroidism / Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Please call us for any further advice and so that we can refer you to the best medical practitioner.