MOA Blog

Here at Mountainstate Orthopedic Associates, people from Bridgeport, WV, Fairmont, WV, and Morgantown, WV, come to us for carpal tunnel. However, we are happy to see patients from all over North Central West Virginia.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

This is when the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel, an opening in your wrist that is formed by the carpal bones on the bottom of the wrist and the transverse carpal ligament across the top of the wrist.  The median nerve provides sensory and motor functions to the thumb and three middle fingers.

Women are three times more likely to get it than men.

Causes

William Eye:  His Journey Back to Doing What He Loves

You use your hands for everything--simple activities such as buttoning clothes and typing to more intricate activities like cooking, sewing, driving, etc.  William Eye spent 32 years as a bus driver for Preston county school system.  Imagine the toll that would take on your hands if you had carpal tunnel and let it go untreated.

About eight years ago William first noticed he had trouble moving his hands around. He would often have to drive with one hand, which you’re not supposed to do as a bus driver.  He would have to put it down and leave it down for awhile as he shook it out because of the numbness before replacing it on the wheel.

What would this mean to the kids?  William always had to think about the kids on his bus and their safety.  Knowing that something bad might happen to them because of him was enough to make him retire.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve is compressed as it passes through an opening from the wrist to the hand called the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is formed by the carpal bones on the bottom of the wrist and the transverse carpal ligament across the top of the wrist. 

Causes

Carpal Tunnel has no specific cause, although any or all of the following may serve as a contributing factor:

By:  Mountainstate Orthopedic Associates

What Is Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery?  Carpal tunnel release is a surgery that’s used to treat and potentially heal the painful condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by trauma, such as a sprain or fracture, or repetitive use of a vibrating tool. It's also associated with pregnancy, diabetes, thyroid disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

3 Signs that You may have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome