Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
- What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
- What is tarsal tunnel syndrome?
- What conditions and diseases cause carpal tunnel syndrome?
- What are carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms?
- How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome? Can carpal tunnel syndrome be prevented?
- What are complications of carpal tunnel syndrome?
- What is the prognosis for carpal tunnel syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome?
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome facts
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Slideshow
- Take the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Quiz!
- View Images of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome FAQs
- Patient Comments: Carpal or Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome - Experience
- Patient Comments: Carpal or Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome - Symptoms and Signs
- Patient Comments: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Treatment
- Find a local Rheumatologist in your town
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpus is a word derived from the Greek word karpos, which means "wrist." The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that normally functions as a support for the joint. The tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel to receive sensations from the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the hand. Any condition that causes swelling or a change in position of the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the median nerve. Irritation of the median nerve in this manner causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers -- a condition known as "carpal tunnel syndrome."
What is tarsal tunnel syndrome?
Anatomy similar to that of the wrist and hand exists in the ankle and foot. Tarsal is a word derived from the Latin word for "ankle." When the sensory nerve that passes through the tarsal tunnel is irritated by pressure in the tunnel, numbness and tingling of the foot and toes can be felt. This condition is referred to as "tarsal tunnel syndrome." Tarsal tunnel syndrome is analogous to, but far less common, than carpal tunnel syndrome. It is treated similarly.
What conditions and diseases cause carpal tunnel syndrome?
For most patients, the cause of their carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown. Any condition that exerts pressure on the median nerve at the wrist can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Common conditions that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome include obesity, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, arthritis, diabetes, and trauma. Tendon inflammation resulting from repetitive work, such as uninterrupted typing, can also cause carpal tunnel symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive maneuvers has been referred to as one of the repetitive stress injuries. Some rare diseases can cause deposition of abnormal substances in and around the carpal tunnel, leading to nerve irritation. These diseases include amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, multiple myeloma, and leukemia.
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