Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and forearm. It occurs when the median nerve, one of the major nerves to the hand, is squeezed or compressed as it travels through the wrist. The carpal tunnel, which is about an inch wide, is a narrow passageway in the wrist formed by small wrist bones called carpal bones on the floor and sides, and a strong band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament on the roof. The nine tendons that bend the fingers and thumb also travel through the carpal tunnel with the median nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome can get worse over time and lead to permanent dysfunction of the hand, including loss of sensation in the fingers and weakness, if left untreated for too long.

The causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include pressure on the median nerve, which can be due to the anatomy of the wrist, health problems, and possibly repetitive hand motions. Anything that squeezes or irritates the median nerve in the carpal tunnel space may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Contributing factors may include trauma or injury to the wrist that causes swelling, an imbalance of either the pituitary gland or the thyroid gland, rheumatoid arthritis, or other arthritic diseases. Sometimes, no single cause can be identified.

Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome ranges from non-invasive treatments such as splinting or hand therapy to work on ergonomics and nerve gliding exercises to injections, which may also provide diagnostic information, or for persistent or severe cases, surgery. Splinting the hand helps keep the wrist from moving and eases the compression of the nerves inside the tunnel. Anti-inflammatory medication, which may be oral or injected into the carpal tunnel space, can reduce the swelling[[4]](https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disord...