We rely on our hands for so many things; hen something goes wrong with just one of your hands, the results can make life really difficult, which is why carpal tunnel syndrome is such a frustrating condition.
So in actuality, what is carpal tunnel?
The Median Nerve
Your hand relies on several nerves running through it in order to work properly. One of the most important of these nerves is the median nerve, which runs through the wrist and into the hand. This particular nerve controls the movement and the feeling in your thumb and the first three fingers of your hand. When something goes wrong with it, you may find that that you are unable to use your thumb and three of four fingers on your hand properly. You may also feel pain and tingling when using your hand and fingers.
The Carpal Tunnel
The carpal tunnel is a very small area on your wrist that the median nerve passes through on the way to your hand. As the median nerve and other nerves pass through this narrow space, they can get damaged and cause problems to most of your hand. The space can also shrink due to inflammation or other health problems, and put pressure on these nerves; this is why the problem is called carpal tunnel syndrome.
Signs and Symptoms
Pressure on the carpal tunnel area of your wrist can cause this syndrome. You may feel occasional pain and tingling in your hands, particularly in your thumb and first three fingers. The pain and tingling may even last for much of the day if the syndrome is really severe. You may feel weakness in the area that is much worse at night.
Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by many conditions, including temporary conditions such as pregnancy and chronic problems such as arthritis. If you have to do the same movements over and over again for a long time like typing all day, this can also aggravate any underlying inflammation of the area and make it worse.
If you are in the West Bloomfield area and you are in need of an orthopedic surgeon to give you a proper assessment and consultation, contact our experts at Michigan Hand and Wrist today.