Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Sign In

All Posts Conditions About

Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.

Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.

All Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Median nerve entrapment

General

The carpal tunnel is located in the inner aspect of the wrist. It is an anatomical structure through which nerves and tendons of the palm pass, including the median nerve responsible for sensation and movement in the palm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused due to pressure on the median nerve. This pressure is created when there is narrowing of the carpal tunnel, that can result from health problems such as diabetes, pregnancy, over usage of the wrist or simply a prone wrist anatomy.

1,098 people with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) are on Alike.

"Alike is the place to get answers from people who firsthand share your health challenges"

Signs & symptoms

Pressure on the median nerve causes a tingling, numbness or electric shock sensations (called paresthesia) in the thumb, index and middle fingers. This sensation is transient at first, but may get constant over time. Additional symptoms are pain in the palm and forearm (that may radiate to the shoulder), atrophy of the thumb muscles (known as thenar wasting) and weakness of the palm, manifests as difficulty grasping things.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is based on the person’s symptoms and physical examination. Additional tests may be used: - *EMG test (Electromyography)* - this test evaluate the electrical activity produced by the muscles. - *Nerve conduction studies* - this test measures how fast an electrical impulse moves through a nerve.

Treatment

Treatment options include: - *Wrist splinters* – keeping the hand in a neutral, pain free position (especially at night) - *physical or occupational therapy* - *Medications* - pain medication and medications that act to reduce inflammation (such as steroids). - *surgery* - surgery is reserved for cases where there is significant damage to the median nerve and other treatment were not sufficient to relieve symptoms

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

Alike Wisdom

Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences

Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.

About Alike Wisdom Blog FAQ Editorial Team All Conditions All Posts All Communities Support

Your Privacy Stories Community Guidelines Terms of Use Privacy Policy Helplines Contact Us Group Chats Guidelines Moderation Process