Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition affecting the hand and wrist: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a specific, painful disorder resulting from pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist.
   • Characteristic symptoms: The condition is defined by a set of symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand and fingers (particularly the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Typing for long hours without proper ergonomics can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Her doctor diagnosed the numbness in her fingers as carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome may include wearing a wrist splint or undergoing surgery.

Advanced Usage

• "to develop carpal tunnel syndrome": to begin to suffer from this condition.
  • Many assembly line workers develop carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive motions.
• "symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome": the specific sensations or signs indicating the condition.
  • The classic symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are tingling and numbness in the thumb and first three fingers.

Variants and Related Words

• Carpal tunnel (noun): The anatomical passageway in the wrist through which the median nerve and tendons pass. This is the structure involved in the syndrome.
  • The median nerve is compressed within the carpal tunnel.
• Repetitive strain injury (RSI) (noun): A broader category of conditions, often including carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by repeated physical movements.

Synonyms

• Median nerve entrapment: A more technical term describing the nerve compression at the wrist.
• Repetitive stress injury: A general term under which carpal tunnel syndrome is often classified.

Related Phrases

• Carpal tunnel release surgery: A specific surgical procedure to relieve pressure on the median nerve.
  • After conservative treatments failed, she opted for carpal tunnel release surgery.

Noun

1. a painful disorder caused by compression of a nerve in the carpal tunnel; characterized by discomfort and weakness in the hands and fingers and by sensations of tingling, burning or numbness