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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Causes


Top Causes

1. Kidney insufficiency

Patients suffering from kidney disorders and undergoing haemodialysis often experience an accumulation of a kind of protein known as beta- 2 microglobulin in the hand and this causes carpal tunnel syndrome. At times, certain medication also cause microglobulin deposits which leads to carpal tunnel syndrome.

2. Hypothyroidism

Recent research has convinced many endocrinologists that hypothyroidism is related to carpal tunnel syndrome. Many have found relief from this syndrome after proper treatment of their hypothyroidism. Patients who suffer from hypothyroidism tend to retain more fluid in their body and this exerts pressure on the median nerve causing carpal tunnel syndrome.

3. Medical conditions like acromegaly, multiple myeloma, amyloidosis

Often, carpal tunnel syndrome might be the effect of some other disease present in the body. Acromegaly is a hormone disorder which makes the body produce a large amount of growth hormone. This results in swelling of the tissues. Multiple myeloma is another condition that can cause this syndrome. Multiple myeloma is the cancer of the plasma cells present in the bone marrow. Amyloidosis is a disease that causes the body to produce amyloid proteins which gets deposited abnormally on the tissues and organs. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a symptom of these serious diseases as well.

4. Congenital factors

In some people, the syndrome is caused due to congenital deformations. Some people are often born with a carpal tunnel that is smaller than others. They are at an increased risk of suffering from this syndrome. When a young person suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome, the most likely cause is a congenital disorder.

5. Tumors and other growths

Tumors are one of the rare causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Tumors, which are in most cases found to be benign, and other growths like ganglion or cysts compress the nerve.

6. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints on both sides of the body, especially wrists and knees. Due to arthritis, the joints of the wrist get swollen and exert pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel and causes the carpal tunnel syndrome.

7. Repetitive hand and wrist movements

Continuous typing during office hours often involves continuous flexing of the wrist, which causes inflammation of the tendons and then harmful pressure is exerted on the median nerve. This is definitely not restricted to typing. Driving, racket sports, weight lifting, sewing or performing any kind of assembly line work can also cause this painful syndrome.

8. Edema

Pregnancy, menopause and certain medical conditions like diabetes, kidney failure, and arthritis can cause fluid retention in the carpal tunnel, which in turn compresses the median nerve. Pregnancy oriented syndromes often get resolved after the pregnancy is over. Hormonal fluctuations in women often result in fluid retention and it is one of the reasons why more women than men tend to suffer from this syndrome.

9. Injury

Injuries like fractures and bone dislocations can exert pressure on the median nerve by narrowing the carpal tunnel, resulting in pain.

10. Diabetes mellitus

Carpal tunnel syndrome is very often caused by diabetes mellitus. This is because diabetes directly affects the nerves of the body, including the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. So, diabetics are very vulnerable to developing this condition.

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