Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a hand and arm condition that causes numbness, tingling and other symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a pinched nerve in your wrist. A number of factors can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, including the anatomy of your wrist, certain underlying health problems and possibly patterns of hand use.
Bound by bones and ligaments, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve to your hand and the nine tendons that bend your fingers. Compression of the nerve produces the numbness, tingling and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.
Fortunately, for most people who develop carpal tunnel syndrome, proper treatment usually can relieve the tingling and numbness and restore wrist and hand function.
SYMPTOMS
Tingling or numbness - You may experience tingling and numbness in your fingers or hand, especially your thumb and index, middle or ring fingers, but not your little finger.
Weakness - You may experience weakness in your hand and a tendency to drop objects
HOW DOES CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME SURGERY WORK?
The goal of carpal tunnel surgery is to relieve pressure on your median nerve by cutting the ligament pressing on the nerve. In endoscopic surgery, your surgeon uses a telescope-like device with a tiny camera attached to it (endoscope) to see inside your carpal tunnel and cut the ligament through one or two small incisions in your hand or wrist. Endoscopic surgery may result in less pain than does open surgery in the first few days or weeks after surgery.