Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that affects many people around the world. It is a nerve disorder that causes pain, tingling, and numbness in the wrist, hand, and fingers. The condition is caused by compression of the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. CTS can be caused by a variety of factors, including repetitive hand movements, injury, and certain medical conditions.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The symptoms of CTS can vary from person to person, but some of the most common symptoms include:
- Pain or numbness in the wrist, hand, and fingers
- Tingling or pins and needles sensation in the fingers
- Weakness in the hand and wrist
- Difficulty gripping objects
- A feeling of swelling in the fingers and hand
While Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is usually characterized as a repetitive stress injury, it can also be caused by pregnancy. In fact, CTS is a common complaint among pregnant women due to the increase in fluid build-up in the tissues, including the forearms and wrist. Edema is the technical term for fluid build-up, and it…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) develops from a nerve problem in the wrist (the median nerve) and is NOT a “muscle problem” like some people believe. That is not to say the median nerve cannot be trapped and pinched by muscles. When this occurs, the condition is labeled with a different name, depending on which muscle(s)…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common “peripheral neuropathies” patients have when they visit a chiropractor for the first time. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is defined as “…damage or disease affecting nerves, which may impair sensation, movement, gland or organ function, or other aspects of health, depending on the type of nerve affected.”…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) belongs to a group of disorders referred to as “cumulative trauma disorders,” or CTDs. The word “cumulative” refers to the cause being repetitive motion, usually fast and prolonged. Over time, the wear and tear on the upper extremities accumulates and symptoms begin to occur and possibly worsen. This can result in…
Chiropractors are often asked, “Why does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) bother me so much during the night?” Let’s take a look! The carpal tunnel is made up of eight small carpal bones that bridge the forearm to the hand. Without these eight little bones, the motion at the wrist would be very restricted and limited…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) can present with a very mild, occasional numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers and may never progress much beyond that point. But, for other patients, CTS is a painful, rapidly progressive problem that requires immediate attention. What makes it mild for some and bad for others?…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a painful, often debilitating, progressive condition that occurs when a nerve in the wrist becomes compressed. Let’s take a closer look at what CTS is and what can be done for it!ONSET: Often, CTS starts with an infrequent, vague sort of numbness or tingling that prompts us to periodically shake…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition caused by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel at the wrist, possibly resulting in numbness, tingling, and eventually weakness in the thumb and the index, middle, and ring fingers. “True” CTS occurs when the median nerve is pinched while it travels through…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) results in pain, numbness, tingling, grip strength weakness, interrupted sleep, and can interfere with work, social family, and recreational activities. Symptoms can radiate up the forearm and into the fingers making tasks that require intricate finger movements very difficult. Many of us know someone who has had carpal tunnel surgery, but…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) affects MANY individuals from all walks of life and in many occupations. Today’s discussion centers around CTS in musicians, and most importantly, what can be done about it. It’s thought that CTS affects musicians because of their rapid, repetitive finger movements. The “formula” for CTS risk includes: Repetition + Speed +…