Carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis are two harrowing conditions, and they’re very easy to confuse with one another when it comes to pain. However, both these conditions are vastly different, although one can be a powerful cause for the other.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve gets pinched, squeezed or damaged, and it results in symptoms that include pain, weakness, stiffness, and numbness.
That’s because the median nerve is one of the big nerves that generate feeling for your hand and arms. The nerve goes through a very narrow passage called the carpal tunnel that also contains tendons as well. When there’s pain and inflammation, this tunnel can impinge or damage the nerve, causing carpal tunnel symptoms.
On the other hand, arthritis is a condition characterized by stiff and painful joints, which often occurs as we age. The symptoms include pain, tenderness, stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. These symptoms tend to get much worse as we get older, and can be debilitating at times unless treatment is provided.
These are two separate conditions, but arthritis can often cause Carpal tunnel syndrome. That’s because arthritis in the wrists can lead to swelling in the wrist and swelling in the area where the median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, thus resulting in symptoms.