Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) : Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Risk Factors

Numerous factors have been connected to carpal tunnel syndrome. Even though they may not be the main contributing factor to carpal tunnel syndrome, they may increase the median nerve's susceptibility to irritability or damage. These include:

• A wrist fracture, dislocation, or arthritis that deforms the minuscule bones of the wrist and puts pressure on the median nerve may cause the space within the carpal tunnel to shift.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome is often more common in women. This might be a result of women's carpal tunnels being smaller than that of men.
• The risk of nerve injury, particularly damage to the median nerve, is increased by a number of chronic conditions, including diabetes.
• The lining around the tendons in the wrist can be impacted by rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, placing pressure on the median nerve.
• Obesity increases the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
• The median nerve may become irritated if fluid retention raises the pressure inside the carpal tunnel. This frequently occurs during menopause and pregnancy. Pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome often gets better on its own after giving birth.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome may be more likely in those who have menopause, thyroid issues, renal failure, lymphedema, and other medical concerns.
• Working with vibrating equipment or on an assembly line that necessitates prolonged or repetitive wrist flexion can put a damaging strain on the median nerve or exacerbate already present nerve injury. This is especially true if the activity is done in a chilly environment.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Complications

The median nerve may suffer irreparable damage as a result of carpal tunnel syndrome, leaving the person permanently disabled and impaired. Moreover, the muscles near the base of the thumb in the palm of the hand may atrophy and become weak because of CTS. This may cause the afflicted fingers to lose their dexterity.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Diagnosis

In order to identify if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor may ask you questions and perform one or more of the tests listed below:

• Symptoms. The symptom pattern will be examined by your healthcare practitioner. For instance, since the little finger doesn't receive sensation from the median nerve, problems in that finger may point to anything other than carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Physical assessment. Your healthcare professional will examine you physically. He or she will assess the strength of the hand's muscles and the sensation in the fingers.
• X-ray. To rule out alternative causes of wrist discomfort, such as arthritis or a fracture, some medical professionals advise taking an X-ray of the afflicted wrist. However, X-rays are useless for identifying carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Ultrasound. To gain a clear view of the bones and nerves in your wrist, your doctor can advise an ultrasound. By doing so, you can assess whether the nerve is being squeezed.
• Electromyography. This examination examines the minute electrical discharges that muscles make. In order to measure the electrical activity that occurs when muscles contract and relax, your doctor will implant a thin-needle electrode into a few selected muscles during this test. This test may rule out other disorders while detecting damage to the muscles the median nerve controls.
• Study of nerve conduction. Two electrodes are attached to the skin in an electromyography version. To determine whether electrical impulses in the carpal tunnel are delayed, a brief shock is delivered to the median nerve.