What is Carpal tunnel ?
Carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway — about as big around as your thumb — located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve to your hand and nine tendons that bend your fingers. Pressure placed on the nerve produces the numbness, pain and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.
| Signs and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
Carpal tunnel syndrome starts gradually with a vague aching in your wrist that can extend to your hand or forearm. Other common carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include:
* Carpal tunnel syndrome tingling or numbness in your fingers or hand, especially your thumb, index, middle sometimes the ring fingers, but not your little finger. This sensation often occurs while driving a vehicle or holding a phone or a newspaper or upon awakening.
* Carpal tunnel syndrome pain radiating or extending from your wrist up your arm to your shoulder or down into your palm or fingers. Usually occurs on palm side of your forearm.
* A sense of weakness in your hands and a tendency to drop objects.
* A constant loss of feeling in some fingers.
