Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Causes of Carpal tunnel syndrome

The cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is not fully understood, but it happens when pressure is put on the median nerve. This is often associated with the following:

• fluid retention during pregnancy - this can cause swelling in the carpal tunnel but usually disappears after childbirth;
• joint dislocations and fractures - this can narrow the tunnel, which puts pressure on the median nerve;
• arthritis, and particularly rheumatoid arthritis - this can cause a thickening of the ligament that covers the carpal tunnel;
• hormonal changes such as an under active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) or over active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Taking the combined oral contraceptive pill may also disrupt the hormone balance enough to cause carpal tunnel syndrome; and
• swelling due to diabetes mellitus.Carpal tunnel syndrome is more likely to occur if the nerves leading to the arm are already under stress, for example, if you have pre-existing neck problems.

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