C-Trac for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
• History of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
• Am I at Risk?

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition caused by a narrowing of the carpal tunnel causing a compression of the structures within the tunnel, including the median nerve. This compression of the median nerve is what causes the uncomfortable symptoms of tingling, numbness and pain.

The median nerve is the nerve that travels down the arm into the hand. With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the nerve is squeezed as it passes through the narrow path (or tunnel) at the wrist. To enter the hand, the median nerve must pass through the narrow opening at the wrist joint. On one side of the wrist joint are bones, and on the other is a strong ligament, flexor retinaculum, that runs across the wrist. The ligament and the bones form a firm channel that has little ability to expand. 

The pressure on the wrist can cause the fingers and thumb to feel tingly and numb. They may even feel paralyzed. The symptoms will most likely begin as mild, increase to moderate and eventually become severe if left untreated. Mild symptoms will most likely begin with tingling and numbness in one or more than one of the tips of your fingers. This may be accompanied by pain around the wrist area and interruption in sleep. Symptoms can increase to include the whole hand, numbness for an increased amount of time, and more severe pain.

Carpal tunnel affects mostly women; the ratio has been reported as high as 9 to 1. ( J Hand Surg 1997) About 87% of cases have bilateral symptoms (affecting both the right and left hands).

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Can affect one or both hands
  • First warning signs are pain, tingling and numbness in the fingers
  • Fingers may feel swollen
  • Pain from your hand up your arm, perhaps all the way to the elbow
  • Pain, tingling and numbness usually worse at night
  • Weakness in your hand and wrist
  • Waking up at night with feeling of numbness
  • Pain in hand and wrist
  • Loss of hand grip strength
  • Dropping objects, clumsiness
  • Lost time at work, interruption of earnings
  • Loss of feeling in fingers/thumb
  • Loss of fine motor skills in hands

What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

  • Injury to the wrist can lead to it.
  • Different kinds of arthritis that cause the wrists to swell can also cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
  • Repeated movements and heavy use of the hand and wrist may play a role. Some people who have jobs or hobbies that   
    make them use their hands and wrists in this way may be at greater risk of getting CTS.
  • People with diabetes may get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
  • There may be a link between CTS and hormones. Some women get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome after a change in certain 
    hormones, such as during pregnancy.

Am I at Risk?

Anyone who uses their hands is at risk for CTS. Any routine or work-related tasks that are consistent and repetitive in motion can cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, particularly:

  • Patients with cumulative trauma to the hands:
              • Hand vibration for prolonged periods
              • Chronic repetitive wrist flexion/extension
              • Positioning (casting, sleeping on hands)
              • Hand weight bearing (SCI, bicycling)
              • Repetitive finger motion (typist, musician) 
              • Forceful gripping activities
              • Use of assistive device (cane/crutch/wheelchair)
  • Patients with metabolic/physiological issues: 
                      • Fluid balance abnormalities
                      • Pregnancy
                      • Chronic hemodialysis
                      • Obesity
                      • Inflammatory Disorders 
                      • Rheumatoid arthritis 
                      • Tenosynovitis
                      • Infectious agents
                      • Gout

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