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What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Your carpal tunnel is located on the palm side of your wrist. It’s made up of bones, ligaments,
and tendons. CTS happens when the median nerve that runs through your carpal tunnel gets
put under pressure or squeezed by swollen tendons in your wrist.
Arthritis and years of repetitive hand movements can cause the tendons to swell. When this
happens, you start to feel symptoms of CTS.
What Are the Symptoms
According to the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the most
common symptoms of CTS include:
• Numbness or tingling in the hand
• An electric shock-like feeling mostly
in the thumb, index, and long fingers
• Unusual sensations and pain that
travels up the arm toward the
shoulder
It’s common for symptoms to appear slowly
and at any time. Many people report they
feel it most on the thumb side of their hand.
When symptoms are recognized and
treated early, CTS can be helped without
surgery.
Who Is at Risk
There are a variety of factors that make some people more likely to get CTS than others, like:
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