Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve at the wrist, which may result in numbness, tingling, weakness, or muscle damage in the hand and fingers.
Alternative Names
Median nerve dysfunction
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve at the point where it passes through the wrist. The median nerve supplies sensation to the thumb side of the palm, and to the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the thumb side of the ring finger. It also helps with movement to part of the hand.
The area where the nerve enters the hand is called the carpal tunnel. Since the passageway is stiff, any swelling in this area can put pressure on the nerve. This may also be called entrapment of the nerve.
Injury to the wrist area can cause swelling of the tissues and carpal tunnel syndrome. This type of injury may be caused by sports such as racquetball and handball, or occur during sewing, typing, driving, assembly-line work, painting, writing, use of tools (especially hand tools or tools that vibrate), or similar activities.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in people who perform repetitive motions of the hand and wrist, such as typing. The condition occurs most often in people 30 to 60 years old, and is more common in women than men.
Some of the conditions associated with carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Numbness or tingling in the thumb and next two or three fingers of one or both hands
Numbness or tingling of the palm of the hand
Pain extending to the elbow
Pain in wrist or hand in one or both hands
Problems with fine finger movements (coordination) in one or both hands
Wasting away of the muscle under the thumb (in advanced or long-term cases)
Weak grip or difficulty carrying bags (a common complaint)
Weakness in one or both hands
Signs and tests
During a physical examination, the doctor may identify numbness in the palm, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb side of the ring finger. Hand grip may be weak.
Tapping over the median nerve at the wrist may cause pain to shoot from the wrist to the hand. This is called the Tinel's sign.
Distal median nerve dysfunction (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Distal median nerve dysfunction is a form of peripheral neuropathy that affects the movement of or sensation in the hands. Peripheral means further out from the spinal cord.A common type of distal median nerve dysfunction is carpal tunnel syndrome...Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/11/2008
Joint x-ray(Doctor-Reviewed information)
This test is an x-ray of a knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, ankle, or other joint.The test is done in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider''s office. The x-ray technologist will help you position the joint to be x-rayed on the ...Reviewer: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/02/2009
Carpal tunnel release (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Carpal tunnel release is surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is pain and weakness in the hand that is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist.The median nerve and the tendons that flex(or curl) your fingers ...Reviewer: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/03/2009
Rheumatoid factor (RF) (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Rheumatoid factor(RF) is a blood test that measures the amount of the RF antibody in the blood.Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine(antiseptic). Reviewer: Mark James Borigini, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/31/2009
Print
