You’re probably wondering, “Do I have it?”, or “why do they call it a tunnel?”

Carpal tunnel refers to the bones and ligament within your wrist which form the shape of a tunnel. Within the tunnel are nerves, arteries, and veins that supply the entire hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome indicates that there is compression of the structures within the tunnel, which block and irritate the structures mentioned previously.

Imagine that you’re driving down a 3 lane highway, and come across a sign that reads “form one lane ahead”. Naturally every driver slows down and merges to form 2 lanes resulting in a temporary congestion.

Similarly, the structures that run through the carpal tunnel are constantly moving through the “highway” that is the arm, wrist, and hand. When there is a blockage in the tunnel, pain, numbness or tingling are often the first symptoms that are felt in the hand. More specifically numbness in the thumb, index, and middle finger are the most common symptoms that are felt.

Carpal tunnel syndrome, if left unattended, can progressively worsen and lead to weakness in the hand and fingers, nerve damage, and even surgery. If you are currently experiencing any tingling or numbness in your hands, it is important to address the causes early and you will prevent them from affecting your hand long term.

Here are some tips to help manage your symptoms: