What is Carpal Tunnel?

[henrah]

And how does it differ from other such ailments of the arm like tendonitis?

[berrt]

And how does it differ from other such ailments of the arm like tendonitis?

The nerves which supply the hand pass through a narrow structure, a "tunnel" at the wrist. If it gets too narrow, the nerves are affected and there is a numb or crawling feeling in the hand. Carpal tunnel is the structure, the disease is carpal tunnel syndrome.

Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons and the sheaths, it is painful with every movement of the affected tendons.

B.

[abaco]

Carpal Tunnel and Tendonitis both fit under the general classification "Repetitive Strain Injury" or RSI, which I have recently been diagnosed with. The tunnel in your wrist which the nerves travel through also holds the tendons that connect to your fingers and run all the way up your forearm. Anyone doing repetitive motions, no matter how tiny, can start to feel stress and pain in the fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, and elbows. Those tendons get irritated from repetitive use, swell, and that's when it starts to hurt, because that passage in your wrist (and another in your elbow called the cubital tunnel) is very narrow. The problem is even worse in females because their tunnels are narrower, but the tendons are the same diameter as men.

I got my RSI from a combination of typing, mousing, tennis, and piano.

Most carpal tunnel syndrome victims get it from spending too much time on their computer - typing and mousing - and never taking breaks. I use a program called Workrave, which is free software, that forces you to take regular breaks to let your hands and arms rest.

I also had tennis elbow, from actually playing tennis, which results usually from improper form. As far as I can tell playing the piano didn't cause my RSI, but it certainly didn't help it, since it was straining already strained nerves and tendons.