What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that affects an estimated 13 million Americans that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. The condition occurs when one of the major nerves in the hand—the median nerve—is compressed as it travels through the wrist. The median nerve controls movement in the thumb and feeling in the thumb and first three fingers. It runs down the arm and forearm, passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist, and goes into the hand.

If you have CTS, your fingers may feel swollen and stiff even though they are not noticeably swollen. You may wake up at night with numb hands that you must “shake out” before going back to sleep. During the day, your hands and fingers may tingle and you could experience reduced grip strength. In some untreated cases of CTS, hand muscles have been known to atrophy. Others experience an inability to distinguish cold or hot using their fingers or palm. Ultimately, people with neglected, severe carpal tunnel syndrome may lose had function and will often require surgery

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Pain

• Congenital predispositions, such as the carpal tunnel being narrower than normal
• Work stress (spending hours at a keyboard, constant use of vibrating, hand-held devices/tools, assembly/piecework)
• Tumor or cyst within the carpal tunnel canal
• Sprain or fracture to the wrist that induces swelling
• Menopause or pregnancy-related fluid retention
• Certain diseases have also been correlated with development of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as hypothyroidism, osteoarthritis, diabetes and autoimmune disorders.

Women have a higher risk than men of suffering carpal tunnel syndrome because the carpal tunnel may be narrower in women than in men. Primarily occurring in adults, CTS almost always affects the dominant hand.