The anatomy of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
- Anatomy of the hand/wrist

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms:
- Sleep pain in hand and wrist
- Sleep interruption from numb hands
- Hands falling asleep
- Pain radiating up the forearm
- Loss of feeling in hand
- Poor Circulation in Hand
- Clumsiness of the hand
- Loss of grip strength
- Atrophy
- Depression

Carpal Tunnel Causes:
- Repetitive Strain/Stress
- Tendonitis
- Tenosynovitis
- Trauma

Carpal Tunnel Treatments:
- Braces/Wraps
- Ultrasound
- Infrared Heat Therapy

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercises/Prevention:
- Diagnosis and Testing
- Rehab and Preventative Exercise

Repetitive Strain Injury

What is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome?
- Anatomy of the foot/ankle

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms:
- Itching, burning, numbing pain (paresthesias)
- Sharp nerve pain
- Surface numbness
- Weakened muscles/Atrophy

Tarsal Tunnel Treatments:
- Conservative
- Surgery

Once one or more tendons in the hand/wrist are injured it becomes very difficult to recover 100%. It is almost impossible to keep from re-straining them because it can be extremely difficult to keep from stressing the joint (even when sleeping). It's just not possible to stop everything and rest your wrists and hands properly. Everyone has demands that make them keep going and in the process we increase the carpal injury further, leading to increased swelling, lack of blood flow, loss of feeling and even loss of finger control. What ends up happening is we slowly give up the ability to use the wrist and hands, slowly eradicating the active life we once led.

If you have a carpal tunnel injury, it's very important to heal it quickly and completely. If you don't, it may plague you forever. As Carpal Tunnel sufferers will tell you, a month of rest and proper therapy is much better than a lifetime of debilitating pain. If you have ever spoken with past Carpal Tunnel sufferers who have had surgery, you know you need to start an active CTS treatment plan and avoid surgery!

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1-866-237-9608

So, even though your Carpal Tunnel can be treated, you aren't getting the therapy you need. With ultrasound from MendMeShop you can get that Ultrasound Therapy in your own home and give your Tarsal Tunnel the treatment it needs to properly heal.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the name for a group of problems that includes swelling, pain, tingling, and loss of strength in your wrist and hand. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist. It is similar to Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, which occurs in your ankle, however Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is far less common. The carpal tunnel is a space in the wrist surrounded by wrist bones and by a rigid ligament that links the bones together. The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel, a canal in the wrist that is formed by a series of small bones called the Metacarpals on three sides, and a fibrous sheath called the flexor retinaculum which acts as a pulley for the forearm flexors on the other. There are nine tendons of the hand that also pass through this canal. The median nerve can be compressed in one of a few ways,

be by swelling of the contents of the canal,
soft tissue swelling in and around the tunnel,
by direct pressure from part of a broken or dislocated bone. Nearly half of CTS sufferers have symptoms in both hands.

Click here to view a breakdown of Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Anatomy:

The top of the Carpal tunnel is formed by 8 carpal bones that form 2 rows and 4 articulations or joints. The proximal row of Carpal bones (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform) and the distal row of carpal bones (trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate) create the top of the tunnel. These bones are small and glide against each other so that we can move our wrist in different directions. The other side of the carpal tunnel is formed by the flexor retinaculum which forms a retinacular bridge over the carpal tunnel. Its main function is to protect the contained tendon without a significant mechanical action in supporting the transverse carpal arch that acts as a pulley for the wrist flexor ligaments when tension is applied to them by contraction of the forearm flexor muscles.

Inside the Carpal Tunnel there is nine tendons that when pulled flex the fingers of the hand. Flexor digitorum superficialis has 4 tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel and insert on the middle phalanx (middle bone of the finger) of digits 2-5 (all fingers but the thumb). Flexor digitorum profundus has 4 tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel and insert on the middle phalanx (middle bone of the fingers) of digits 2-5 (all fingers but the thumb). Flexor pollicis longus has 1 tendon that passes through the carpal tunnel and inserts in the distal phalanx (bone at the tip of the thumb). When inflammation occurs in the onset of tendenosis with any of these tendons the median nerve can become compressed then numbness, muscle weakness and tingling can occur to thumb, index finger, middle finger and ring finger.

Letters From Our Customers:

I developed tendonitis in my left wrist back in 6/07. I had a cortisone injection which only lasted 2 months. Then I had physical therapy for 2 months and it helped but I still had limited use and still felt a considerable amount of pain in my wrist. In December, I decided to try acupuncture. I finally started to find some relief but the she told me that it would be helpful if I applied some heat in order to increase the blood flow to the wrist. So I started to look in the internet and came upon your website. I purchased the left CTS infrared device and started using it in February. I can honestly say that now I currently have full mobility of my left wrist and no pain. I would say that it took approximately a month and half to feel complete relief and I am grateful.

- Nancee Capote, NJ

I treated my left hand/wrist several times for carpal tunnel syndrome according to instructions. After suffering for months with this condition with literally no use of my left hand, it is now at least 80-90% better than it was. I can now pick things up and bend my hand backwards without pain or spasm up my forearm. I am impressed. Thanks for a great product.

- Robert Molzahn

Thank you you for your great customer service. Your product is excellent and your quick response to my requests is outstanding. I hope other people take advantage of your ultrasound since it compliments physical therapy and gives quicker results.

- Kathryn Hallock

As a CPGA Class "A" golf professional with a focus on golf specific conditioning I have found the Thermotex to be an effective tool in the management of recovery and recuperation from golf and training. The Thermotex is portable and effective. It can provide benefit to virtually any golfer, recreational or professional.

- Kendal Yonomoto, CPGA Class "A" Professional, Vancouver