The carpal tunnel is a “tunnel” in the wrist that houses nine tendons of muscles, which flex the hand, and the median nerve. In the hand, the median nerve is responsible for sensation of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. It is also responsible for some motor function of the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The floor of the tunnel is the carpal (wrist) bones and the roof is the flexor retinaculum (a band of connective tissue).

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by increased pressure in the carpal tunnel and subsequent compression of the median nerve. The most common complaints are pain, numbness, and tingling, especially of the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Symptoms are usually worse at night; people often find themselves waking up from sleep and having to “shake out” their hands to alleviate symptoms. Many people also have difficulty manipulating small objects or have weakness in those same fingers. Untreated, long standing carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to wasting of the muscles in the thumb. In addition, many pregnant women develop carpal tunnel syndrome as their pregnancy progresses, but symptoms usually resolve after the baby is born with no surgical intervention.