Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - What Nerve?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a painful condition that affects your hand. This happens when the nerve (median nerve) within your wrist gets compressed.
The connection between the brain and spinal cord with various part of the body (receptor organs) is made by a fiber that is called a nerve. A network of nerves conduct impulses from the brain/spinal cord to the receptor organs as well as transmit impulses from the receptor organs back to the brain/spinal cord.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves branching from the spinal nerve and supplying the arm and parts of the shoulder. The median nerve is one of the main nerves branching from the brachial plexus.
The branches of the median nerve include the anterior interosseous nerve of forearm, common palmar digital nerves, and muscular and palmar branches, and a communicating branch with the ulnar nerve. This median nerve passes through the canal within the wrist, and when it gets compressed there, carpal tunnel pain occurs.
The median nerve and nine flexor tendons pass through the carpal tunnel or canal which is a tiny passageway. Compression of the median nerve can happen when any one of the flexor tendons gets inflamed which results in the narrowing of the canal.
The skin on front of lateral part of the hand, most of flexor muscles of front of forearm, most of short muscles of thumb and elbow, joint, and many joints of hand are ultimately supplied by this nerve. General sensory is the function of this nerve.
What happens when a median nerve gets compressed within the wrist like in the case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? When this nerve gets compressed by any factor, there is an interruption of the transmission of impulses from the sensory nerve fibers.
A partial or total lack of sensation in the hand is the result of this interruption. This is the numbness experienced by the afflicted person. There is often tingling felt with the numbness.
The intense numbness is the reason why the afflicted person often wakes up at night. The 'carpal tunnel pain' is actually this intense numbness.
When people sleep at night, they tend to flex their wrist resulting to the compression of the median nerve. Putting on a wrist brace at this time helps to keep the wrist in an unbent position.
If you experience a constant numbness and tingling in your hand, you may be suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Consult your doctor straightaway.
The connection between the brain and spinal cord with various part of the body (receptor organs) is made by a fiber that is called a nerve. A network of nerves conduct impulses from the brain/spinal cord to the receptor organs as well as transmit impulses from the receptor organs back to the brain/spinal cord.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves branching from the spinal nerve and supplying the arm and parts of the shoulder. The median nerve is one of the main nerves branching from the brachial plexus.
The branches of the median nerve include the anterior interosseous nerve of forearm, common palmar digital nerves, and muscular and palmar branches, and a communicating branch with the ulnar nerve. This median nerve passes through the canal within the wrist, and when it gets compressed there, carpal tunnel pain occurs.
The median nerve and nine flexor tendons pass through the carpal tunnel or canal which is a tiny passageway. Compression of the median nerve can happen when any one of the flexor tendons gets inflamed which results in the narrowing of the canal.
The skin on front of lateral part of the hand, most of flexor muscles of front of forearm, most of short muscles of thumb and elbow, joint, and many joints of hand are ultimately supplied by this nerve. General sensory is the function of this nerve.
What happens when a median nerve gets compressed within the wrist like in the case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? When this nerve gets compressed by any factor, there is an interruption of the transmission of impulses from the sensory nerve fibers.
A partial or total lack of sensation in the hand is the result of this interruption. This is the numbness experienced by the afflicted person. There is often tingling felt with the numbness.
The intense numbness is the reason why the afflicted person often wakes up at night. The 'carpal tunnel pain' is actually this intense numbness.
When people sleep at night, they tend to flex their wrist resulting to the compression of the median nerve. Putting on a wrist brace at this time helps to keep the wrist in an unbent position.
If you experience a constant numbness and tingling in your hand, you may be suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Consult your doctor straightaway.
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