1. Heredity Plays a Part
Some people are just born with smaller carpal tunnels than other people. If you've got a naturally small carpal tunnel, you'll be more susceptible to developing carpal tunnel syndrome, especially if you receive any injuries to your wrist. If other people in your family have had carpal tunnel syndrome, or if there's a history of wrist problems in your family, you might have inherited a small carpal tunnel.
2. Injuries Can Bring on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Any kind of injury that damages the wrist can bring on carpal tunnel syndrome. The injury will have to either narrow the carpal tunnel space, put pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel or both. Sports injuries, sprains and fractures are big candidates for causing carpal tunnel syndrome, as these types of injuries place a lot of pressure on the nerve there, due to swelling.
3. Mechanical Issues Are a Cause in Some People
Any mechanical abnormalities in the wrist may cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis are two primary culprits for causing these abnormalities. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause swelling in the wrist through inflammation. Both types of arthritis can destroy cartilage, causing wrist deformities that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
4. Abnormal Growths Can Cause It
Cysts and tumors on the wrist can cause carpal tunnel syndrome if they press on the carpal tunnel space. In most cases, removing the growths will relieve the carpal tunnel syndrome, unless permanent damage to the space has occurred. If this is the case, then more extensive surgery may be needed to repair it.
5. Repetitive Motion May Cause Some Cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The medical jury is still out on whether repetitive motion can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Many doctors find that many suspected cases of repetitive motion carpal tunnel turn out to just be soft tissue injuries, such as tendinitis or bursitis. However, repetitive motions that cause swelling around the carpal tunnel could cause the syndrome in some cases.
