If you have ever suffered from this you will know how painful it can be. Please keep reading to find out what help is available.
What is it?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition, causing pain, numbness, and sometimes tingling in the hand and arm. This pain can be intense, traveling up your arm into your shoulder. You may experience weakness in your hand. This condition occurs when the median nerve becomes squeezed or compressed as it travels through your wrist. In most patients, this can worsen over time so early diagnosis and treatment is very important.
What causes it?
There can be a number of factors. Simply being older or female increases the risk. Other influencers are hereditary, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid imbalance. Additionally, repetitive hand use can cause aggravation and swelling around the nerve. Lastly, pregnancy may also trigger carpal tunnel syndrome.
Confirmation of CTS is done by medical history alongside various tests. X-rays, ultrasound, and MRI can assist diagnosis, alongside a physical test called a Tinel’s test.
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