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"During 1998, an estimated three of every 10,000 workers lost time from work because of carpal tunnel syndrome. Half of these workers missed more than 10 days of work. The average lifetime cost of carpal tunnel syndrome, including medical bills and lost time from work, is estimated to be about $30,000 for each injured worker." (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Surgery should be the very last consideration made by individuals suffering with carpal tunnel as this condition can usually be resolved by specific treatment. Dr. Azim is proficient and has been very successful in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Cumulative Trauma Disorders.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition of the wrist and hand wherein the median nerve is pressed or squeezed at the wrist and is characterized by pain and a loss of sensation along the forearm and wrist and hand. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger. The median nerve controls the impulses to the small muscles of the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. The "tunnel" is a rigid, narrow passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand which houses the median nerve and tendons.

The tunnel can be blocked by swelling or thickening tendons which are irritated and when this happens the median nerve is squeezed or compressed. The result can be weakness, pain or numbness in the hand and wrist and may also radiate up the arm.
Causes for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) are many and include: carpal subluxation, mal-healed fracture, tenosynovitis, tumor, congenital malformation, fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause, trauma or injury to the wrist which cause sprain/swelling, overactivity of the pituitary gland; diabetes, hypothyroidism; mechanical problems in the wrist joint; work stress; repeated use of vibrating hand tools; rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, or amyloidosis, the development of a cyst or tumor in the canal, compression of the median nerve at C-5 - C7, or anywhere along it's route from the cervical vertebrae to the wrist.

Carpal tunnel symptoms tend to start somewhat gradually with tingling, itching and sometimes frequent burning in the palm of the hand and fingers, especially the thumb and index fingers. Sometimes people who are affected complain that they fingers feel swollen even though no visible swelling can be seen.

People may sleep with flexed wrists and awaken with numbness or tingling in one or both hands and may feel tingling during the day as the condition worsens. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks.

Because women generally tend to have smaller hands the carpal tunnel itself may be smaller in women than in men, making women three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. The dominant hand is usually affected first and produces the most severe pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome typically does not occur in children and teenagers.