Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: An Overview

By Jonathan Cluett, M.D., About.com Guide

Updated August 18, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that pinches a nerve in the wrist. The median nerve travels from the spinal cord to the finger tips. In the wrist, the median nerve passes underneath a ligament along with the flexor tendons of the fingers. The ligament that surrounds the median nerve and the finger tendons form the carpal tunnel.

In some people, this carpal tunnel becomes crowded, and the median nerve gets pinched. When the median nerve is pinched, symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can result.

Previous

• Pinching of the Median Nerve
• Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel
• Initial Treatment with Night Splints
• Incision for Carpal Tunnel Surgery
• Release of the Median Nerve for Carpal Tunnel

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