Carpal tunnel, also called carpal tunnel syndrome, is a that affects the connective tissue and joints of the wrist. It can cause tingling, numbness, weakness, pain, and even swelling. You’ve likely heard of carpal tunnel syndrome and its link to things like typing or using a computer for too long. However, carpal tunnel syndrome is far more complex than that. Let’s explore the common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome so you can understand your carpal tunnel treatment options.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel?
To understand why these different things cause carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s best to understand what causes the symptoms to occur. Carpal tunnel occurs when pressure is applied to the median nerve. Pinching or compression of these nerves leads to the symptoms people are familiar with. Irritating or inflaming the surrounding connective tissues causes the tissue to swell. This can compress the median nerve. In short, the cause of carpal tunnel is anything that irritates the connective tissue around the median nerve. Let’s take a look at the common causes of that irritation.
Sex
Being a woman biologically predisposes you to carpal tunnel syndrome. This is because the area where the median nerve goes through is much smaller compared to men. This causes irritated tissue to compress the nerve easier.
Injury
Any sort of injury, like a wrist fracture, drastically increases your chance of experiencing carpal tunnel. This is because the connective tissue is likely already inflamed or swollen. You’re likely to experience carpal tunnel from a wrist injury, especially if you irritate the wrist further.
Repetitive Wrist Motions
Repetitive wrist motions can put disproportionate pressure and stress on a certain ligament or tendon in your wrist. This leads to irritation over long periods of time and can compress the median nerve. This is where the stereotype of typing or using a mouse causing carpal tunnel comes from. It is entirely possible to develop carpal tunnel by using a mouse and keyboard for long periods of time.
Seeking Treatment
Carpal tunnel often goes away on its own over time. However, chronic carpal tunnel can exist if irritation persists. Thankfully, our staff at the Bone and Joint Specialists can help you with carpal tunnel treatment. Our team of doctors is comprised of experts in their field who can help derive the root cause of your wrist irritation and treat it at the source. If you are struggling with carpal tunnel, then contact the Bone and Joint Specialists at 219-795-3360 today.
