Carpal Tunnel Pain refers to pain experienced due to inflammation, wear-down or irritation of the structures in the Carpal Tunnel of the Wrist. Carpal Tunnel can be felt as pain in the wrist accompanied by numbness of the fingers and palm of the affected hand, which may also be accompanied by weakness, loss of dexterity, and pain that moves up the arm.

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Carpal Tunnel Pain is caused by compression of the Median Nerve in the Carpal Tunnel of the Wrist. The Carpal Tunnel is an anatomical structure, bounded by bones and ligaments. The Carpal Tunnel allows tendons, blood vessels, and nerves to pass from the forearm to act on and supply structures inside the hand. Muscles that pass through the Carpal Tunnel allow the fingers to move, and nerves that pass through the Carpal Tunnel provide sensation to the hand. One such nerve in the Carpal Tunnel is the Median Nerve.

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The Median Nerve provides sensation to the palm and fingers, as well as allowing some small muscles in the palm to be controlled. Compression of the Median Nerve results in pain felt in the areas of skin supplied by this nerve, as well as weakness in the muscles that this nerve controls. The Median Nerve is most commonly compressed by inflammation of the Tendons that run through the Carpal Tunnel, alongside this nerve.

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Tendons in the Carpal Tunnel can become inflamed for many reasons. Most commonly, inflammation is caused by repetitive movement of the hand in the use of machinery or fine tools like a stylus or a pen. Carpal Tunnel Tendons can also become inflamed due to a cyst or tumour in the Carpal Tunnel, due to trauma to the wrist, or by infection.

Management of Carpal Tunnel is a process that involves addressing physical, occupational, personal, and lifestyle risk factors to minimise pain and maximise function. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your Carpal Tunnel Pain, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future.

At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today