The wrist is a joint with multiple bones, tendons, and nerves that connects the arm to the hand. There are multiple nerves that go to the hand, one of which is the median nerve. This nerve is commonly compressed in the carpal tunnel, causing pain, numbness, and weakness in the hand.
Carpal tunnel can occur for a variety of reasons:
A comprehensive history and physical examination is the most important piece to determine if the median nerve is involved in your wrist pain. Electrodiagnostic studies (EMG/NCS) look at the health and quality of your nerves. It can determine how severely the nerve may be damaged and at what location your nerve symptoms originate. Ultrasound is used to visualize the nerve and determine if there is any injury or swelling within the nerve.
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Reviewed by: Dr. Niteesh Bharara, MD.
Reviewed by: Dr. Niteesh Bharara, MD.