Is carpal tunnel syndrome the same as arthritis?

Answer 1

Not exactly. The term "carpal" refers to the bones of the wrist; the condition "carpal tunnel syndrome" is caused by compression of a nerve passing through this area.

Arthritis, of which there are a number of types, refers to inflammation of a joint (arthri is a Latin prefix meaning "joint").

So while both conditions involve joint problems, the one is caused by irritation of a nerve in the wrist only, while the other involves inflammation, and often deformation and immobilization, of joint tissues and can occur in any joint.

Answer 2

Carpal tunnel syndrome, it is caused by compression of the median nerve that runs through the "carpal tunnel" in your wrist.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in joints and other tissue leading to their damage or destruction.

If someone has inflammation as a result of rheumatoid arthritis in the area of the carpel tunnel the resultant swelling may lead to compression of the median nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel. This condition is particularly prevalent in the case of rheumatoid arthritis.They are however to entirely different conditions with entirely different treatments.