Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when one of the major nerves, the median nerve, to the hand is compressed as it travels through the wrist. The median nerve provides feeling in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. The flexor tendons that bend the fingers and thumb also travel through the carpal tunnel. If the tendons swell, they put pressure on the median nerve and the swelling takes up space in the tunnel, crowding the nerve. The abnormal pressure on the nerve can result in pain, numbness, and weakness in the hand and forearm.