Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when there is pressure on a nerve (median nerve) within the wrist (carpal tunnel). Carpal tunnel syndrome accounts for more than 40% of all repetitive motion disorders. When compared with other illnesses and injuries, it is one of the most common causes of absence from work.

Causes
The most common factor that contributes to carpal tunnel syndrome is engaging in activities that use the same finger or hand movements repeatedly. We do these activities in every part of our lives, including work, home, hobbies, and sports. In fact,
most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome can be prevented by stopping or reducing an activity that stresses your fingers, hand, or wrist, or by changing the way in which you do that activity.

Symptoms
Symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome include tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in the fingers or hand, and occasionally in the lower arm and elbow.

Treatment
Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is based on how serious the condition is, whether there is any nerve damage, and whether other treatments have helped. Non-surgical treatment includes changing or avoiding activities that may be causing the condition, taking frequent breaks from repetitive tasks, doing exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in the hand and arm, and wearing a wrist splint. Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and injecting corticosteroids into the carpal tunnel may be considered if it is difficult to reduce inflammation with other methods. If your symptoms are mild, with occasional tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain, 1 to 2 weeks of home treatment will often relieve your symptoms.

If your symptoms are more severe or nonsurgical treatments have not helped, surgery may be an option.