Final answer:
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where the median nerve in the wrist is compressed, causing wrist pain and numbness. Treatment options include wearing a wrist splint, getting corticosteroid injections, or undergoing surgery. Without treatment, the affected muscles of the hand may weaken.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes wrist pain and numbness because the medial nerve is compressed. The median nerve runs through a narrow passageway in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. When this tunnel becomes compressed, it puts pressure on the median nerve, leading to symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the thumb and first two fingers of the hand.
Treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome can include wearing a wrist splint, receiving corticosteroid injections, or undergoing surgery to release the pressure on the median nerve. Without treatment, the affected muscles of the hand may weaken and waste away due to the lack of nervous stimulation.