What are the conditions associated with a pinched nerve?
Different conditions arise as a result of nerve compression at different sites. Nerve compression may occur at any level along the vertebral column as a result of injury or inflammation. • Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs due to compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. There is pain and paresthesia along the distribution of the median nerve with the thumb, index and middle finger and half of the ring finger. In later stages there may be muscle wasting of the palm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very common condition, occurring most frequently in women between 30 to 50 years of age. Some of the factors predisposing to it are rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, acromegaly, certain immune system diseases and edema of the carpal tunnel produced during pregnancy. Activities requiring repetitive flexion and extension of the wrist may also play a part in developing this syndrome. • Radial tunnel syndrome is the compression of the radi
