Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common condition that affects the wrist and hand. It happens when a nerve called the median nerve gets squeezed as it passes through a narrow space in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. This squeezing can cause symptoms like numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger. People may also notice weakness in their hand or difficulty gripping objects. The condition mainly affects the nervous system and can impact daily activities that require hand use.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a neuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel at the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a fibro-osseous canal bounded by carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament. Increased pressure in this tunnel, often due to repetitive wrist movements, inflammation, or space-occupying lesions, leads to ischemia and demyelination of the median nerve fibers. This results in sensory symptoms such as paresthesias in the median nerve distribution and motor deficits including thenar muscle weakness. It is the most common entrapment neuropathy and can significantly impair hand function and quality of life.