Do you suffer from wrist pain and weakness in the muscles of the hand? If yes, you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
The compression of the median nerve causes carpal tunnel syndrome as it passes through the carpal tunnel and enters into the palm.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway located on the anterior aspect of the wrist. The bones form a deep part of the carpal arch while the flexor retinaculum makes the superficial part.
It allows the passage of nerves and tendons into the palm and holds tendons in place during the wrist joint movements.
If the median nerve gets compressed in the carpal tunnel due to any reason, it can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
What are the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?
In most cases, the actual cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown. Any factor that reduces the size of the carpal tunnel or increases pressure on the median nerve can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
Common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are:
1. Rheumatoid arthritis:
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that damages joints and causes joint pain.
It usually causes damage to joints on both sides of the body. Hence, when you feel discomfort in one wrist, take care of both wrists.
It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints. The median nerve may get compressed if it affects the wrist joint, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome1,2.
2. Tendinopathy:
Medical anomalies causing inflammation of flexor tendons like tenosynovitis3 or tendonitis can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
Tendons of the flexor of the wrist and fingers pass through the carpal tunnel to gain entry into the palm.
If they swell, they increase pressure on the median nerve producing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
3. Pregnancy:
The pregnancy leads to fluid retention in the body due to hormonal changes and causing swelling of the synovium. It increases pressure on the median nerve so causes pain in the wrist and hand leading to CTS4.
The symptoms are most commonly experienced in the 3rd trimester5 but may also arise in the 1st or 2nd trimester. Symptoms usually go away after the baby is born.
4. Trauma to the wrist like wrist fractures:
Trauma to the wrist can damage the carpal bones and can affect the size of the carpal tunnel. It’s a leading cause of pain and numbness due to median nerve compression6.
5. Tumors:
Tumors and tumor-like lesions in the vicinity of the median nerve often lead to carpal tunnel syndrome7.
Tumors such as lipoma or ganglion that are benign usually may protrude into the carpal tunnel and reduce space.
They increase pressure on the median nerve, causing wrist pain and tingling sensation in the fingers.
6. Acromegaly:
Acromegaly arises due to excessive secretion of human growth hormone after growth age.
It causes an increase in the size of bones forming the carpal tunnel and reduces the space around the median nerve. Nerve gets compressed, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome8.
7. Hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism and myxedema can cause carpal tunnel syndrome9 due to increased deposition of GAGs in the connective tissue of the median nerve. GAGs accumulation also affects the tendons of muscles passing through the carpal tunnel.
8. Transthyretin amyloidosisassociated polyneuropathy:
Transthyretin amyloidosis also causes carpal tunnel syndrome10 due to excessive transthyretin amyloid deposits in the tissues. It increases the pressure on the median nerve.
9. Repeated wrist movements:
Repeated wrist movements and overextension can cause swelling of the wrist joint and median nerve compression.
Wrist movements such as using a keyboard or mouse or playing the piano contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Source Link : Carpal Tunnel Syndrome