The carpal tunnel is a passageway from the wrist to the hand, or anterior wrist. It consists of ligaments, bones and tendons. The median nerve, which passes through the carpal tunnel, provides sensation to the thumb, middle and index fingers.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the inflammation or entrapment of nerves within the carpal tunnel.The causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are often associated with repetitive movements of the wrist and fingers, such as typing, writing, knitting or driving.

Symptoms include numbness and tingling in the hand, difficulty grasping or carrying objects and hand pain.

This pain can also come from nerve entrapment in the neck, as the nerve that supplies the wrist and hand originates here.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is stubborn to heal. You will most likely need a series of treatments to get real relief. It’s smart to begin with an assessment of the arm, shoulder and neck, to rule out nerve entrapment in the wrist. In addition, it’s a good idea to explore soft tissue treatment options before surgery.