Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Introduction: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when tendons or ligaments in the wrist become enlarged, often from inflammation, after being aggravated. The narrowed ... more about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Hand or wrist problems; often from repetitive motion. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is available below.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Burning fingers
• Tingling fingers
• Numbness in fingers
• Finger paresthesias
• Typically thumb, index and middle fingers affected

See full list of 11 symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Medical Textbooks Online about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

• Misdiagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Underlying causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Repetitive motions
• Work-related repetition
• Certain occupations - e.g. small hand tools, sewing, computers, cutting, checkouts, assembly lines, typing, accountants, writers, etc.
• Wrist inflammations
• Wrist injury

See full list of 20 causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

More information about causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

• Underlying causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a complication caused by other conditions
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a symptom

Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Resting hand and/or wrist
• Wrist splint immobilization
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Cortisone injections
• Carpal tunnel surgery

See full list of 6 treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Videos for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Patient Surveys for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Prognosis for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Prognosis for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Approximately 1 percent of individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome develop permanent injury. The majority recover completely and can avoid reinjury by changing the way they do repetitive movements, the frequency with which they do the movements, and the amount of time they rest between periods when they perform the movements. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Information Page: NINDS) ... Most people with CTS recover completely and can avoid re-injury by changing the way they do repetitive movements, the frequency with which they do the movements, and the amount of time they rest between periods when they perform the movements. Approximately 1 percent of individuals with CTS develop permanent injury. (Source: excerpt from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: NWHIC)

More about prognosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Reseach about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Visit our research pages for current research about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome treatments.

Clinical Trials for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include:

• Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Gabapentin for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Gabapentin
• Safety and Efficacy of Lidoderm (Lidocaine Patch 5%) in Treating Moderate to Severe Pain Associated With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - lidocaine patch 5%
• Efficacy of Wrist/Hand Splints and Tendon/Nerve Gliding Exercises for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A RCT - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment Trial - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 13 Clinical Trials for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Prevention information for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

• Avoiding repetitive movements
• Changing method for repetitive movements
• Using less force in repetitive movements - e.g. hitting keys softly.
• Resting between repetitive movements
• Grip aids - e.g. oversize grips on pens

Read more about prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Icon Health Sourcebook for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

See all guides and ebooks for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Article Excerpts about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

NINDS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when tendons or ligaments in the wrist become enlarged, often from inflammation, after being aggravated. The narrowed tunnel of bones and ligaments in the wrist pinches the nerves that reach the fingers and the muscles at the base of the thumb. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when tendons in the wrist become inflamed after being aggravated. Tendons can become aggravated when the carpals (a tunnel of bones) and the ligaments in the wrist narrow, pinching nerves that reach the fingers and the muscle at the base of the thumb. Repetitive flexing and extension of the wrist may cause a thickening of the protective sheaths that surround each of the tendons, which narrows the tunnel. (Source: excerpt from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: NWHIC)

Definitions of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Entrapment of the MEDIAN NERVE in the carpal tunnel, which is formed by the flexor retinaculum and the CARPAL BONES. This syndrome may be associated with repetitive occupational trauma (CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS); wrist injuries; AMYLOID NEUROPATHIES; rheumatoid arthritis (see ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID); ACROMEGALY; PREGNANCY; and other conditions. Symptoms include burning pain and paresthesias involving the ventral surface of the hand and fingers which may radiate proximally. Impairment of sensation in the distribution of the median nerve and thenar muscle atrophy may occur. (Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1995, Ch51, p45) - (Source - Diseases Database)

A disorder caused by compression of a nerve in the carpal tunnel (where the nerve passes through the wrist); characterized by discomfort and weakness in the hand - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet