Carpal tunnel syndrome is a
painful disorder of the wrist and hand. The carpal tunnel is a
narrow tunnel formed by the bones and other tissues of your
wrist. This tunnel protects your median nerve. The median
nerve gives you feeling in your thumb, and index, middle and
ring fingers. But when other tissues in the carpal tunnel,
such as ligaments and tendons, get swollen or inflamed, they
press against the median nerve. That pressure can make part of
your hand hurt or feel numb.
Doing the same hand movements
over and over can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. It's most
common in people whose jobs require pinching or gripping with
the wrist held bent. People at risk include people who use
computers, carpenters, grocery checkers, assembly-line
workers, meat packers, violinists and mechanics. Hobbies such
as gardening, needlework, golfing and canoeing can sometimes
bring on the symptoms.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is linked
to other things too. It may be caused by an injury to the
wrist, such as a fracture. Or it may be caused by a disease
such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or thyroid disease.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is common during the last few months of
pregnancy.
