Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a painful condition that affects your hand. This happens when the nerve (median nerve) within your wrist gets compressed.
The connection between the brain and spinal cord with various part of the body (receptor organs) is made by a fiber that is called a nerve. A network of nerves conduct impulses from the brain/spinal cord to the receptor organs as well as transmit impulses from the receptor organs back to the brain/spinal cord.
The network of nerves which branches from the spinal nerve and supplies the arms and parts of the shoulder is called the brachial plexus. As one of the main nerves, the median nerve branches from the brachial plexus.
The branches of the median nerve include the anterior interosseous nerve of forearm, common palmar digital nerves, and muscular and palmar branches, and a communicating branch with the ulnar nerve. This median nerve passes through the canal within the wrist, and when it gets compressed there, carpal tunnel pain occurs.
The median nerve and nine flexor tendons pass through the carpal tunnel or canal which is a tiny passageway. Compression of the median nerve can happen when any one of the flexor tendons gets inflamed which results in the narrowing of the canal.
Ultimately the distribution of this nerve is into the skin on front of lateral part of the hand, most of flexor muscles of front of forearm, most of short muscles of thumb and elbow, joint, and many joints of hand. The modality of this nerve is general sensory.
What happens when a median nerve gets compressed within the wrist like in the case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? When this nerve gets compressed by any factor, there is an interruption of the transmission of impulses from the sensory nerve fibers.
This interruption results in a total or partial lack of sensation in the hand. Tingling is often present with the numbness.
One often wakes at night from the intense numbness in the affected hand. This intense numbness is called the carpal tunnel pain.
People tend to sleep with their wrist bent, for this reason the median nerve in the wrist gets more compressed during sleep. This is the reason why a wrist brace worn at night is advised.
If you experience a constant numbness and tingling in your hand, you may be suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Consult your doctor straightaway.
You can find out more about quick acting pain relief for carpal tunnel, when you visit the site for the best carpal tunnel treatment to eliminate your carpal tunnel pain for good!. Free reprint available from: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Which Nerve?.
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