How do you get carpal tunnel?

Answer 1

Carpal tunnel can be caused by many different things. The most common one that people know about is repetitive hand/finger use. This can cause your tendons in your wrist to become inflamed and enlarged and this can but pressure or squeeze the median nerve to give you carpal tunnel symptoms. These structures travel through the area in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. There are other causes or risk factors that can cause CTS as well, like Diabetes, pregnancy, and hypothyroidism to name a few.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a collection of characteristic symptoms and signs that occurs following entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. Usual symptoms include numbness, paresthesias, and pain in the median nerve distribution. These symptoms may or may not be accompanied by objective changes in sensation and strength of median-innervated structures in the hand. Given that carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is associated with low aerobic fitness (and increased BMI), it makes inherent sense to provide the patient with an aerobic fitness program.

A recent literature citation suggests that there is still little guidance on the level of exposure to physical work demands that is associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.[1] This study is augmented by the fact that specific risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome remain controversial; there are few clinical data to show that repetitive or forceful hand and wrist movement can result in carpal tunnel syndrome. No single ergonomic risk factor is sufficient; multiple, simultaneous ergonomic risk factors must be present for work or recreational activity to contribute to development of carpal tunnel syndrome.[2] Furthermore, there are any number of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, which would include rheumatoid Arthritis, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, acromegaly, multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, obesity, recent tuberculosis, and bacterial or fungal infection that spreads into the carpal tunnel

[1] van Rijn RM, Huisstede BM, Koes BW, et al. Associations between work-related factors and the carpal tunnel syndromeda systematic review. Scand J Work Environ Health 2009;35:19-36

[2] Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet." National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 10 Apr. 2008. National Institutes of Health (NIH). 15 Dec. 2008