What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when a combination of health combination and activities puts pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in your wrist. This pressure leads to symptoms. Anything that increases the sensitivity of the median nerve, increases the amount of tissue in the tunnel, or decreases the amount of space in the carpal tunnel which can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Causes
What causes CTS? The most common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are thought to be:
- Repetitive maneuvers
- Repeated use of vibrating hand tools
- Work stress
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Have a parent, brother or sister with CTS
- Inflammatory, degenerative, and rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Trauma, such as dislocation or fracture of the wrist
- Structural problems in the wrist joint
- Lesions in the wrist
- A cyst or tumor in the carpal tunnel
- Overactive pituitary gland
There can be several causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, but these are some of the common causes. It is important to keep in mind that sometimes CTS is idiopathic, which means no specific cause can be found.
Treatment
Surgery can help reduce the amount of pain and immobility patients face. Our surgeons make a small incision on the patient’s palm and cut the ligament to relieve pressure on the nerve. Another option is an open surgery where a larger incision is made, and a greater portion of the ligament is cut. The skin will heal within a few weeks, but physical therapy is recommended for months following this procedure.
Contact Us
Are you ready to release the pressure in your wrists? You can count on Effingham Ambulatory Surgery Center to provide you with a convenient, affordable same day surgery experience. You can learn more about this procedure on our website or you can contact us today and we’ll assist you with your next step!