Median Nerve Entrapment

An Image of the Median Nerve Entrapment

What Is Median Nerve Entrapment

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is caused by entrapment of the median nerve. The median nerve exits the brachial plexus and travels down the arm into the forearm wrist and hand.

So common symptoms to feel with this, whether it's entrapped in the elbow region or forearm or wrist is pain in that region in the forearm, into the fingers one to four, pins and needles in the same area which leads to loss of sensation, temperature and touch and weakness. So in more severe cases, you have motor impairment and some wasting of the muscles in the thumbs.

Demonstration of Pronator Teres Syndrome Pain

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome Vs. Pronator Teres Syndrome

The difference between carpal tunnel syndrome and pronator teres syndrome is the areas where the nerve is compressed. For carpal tunnel, the nerve is compressed in the wrist region while for pronator teres elbow region. Figuring out the difference between where the nerve is compressed helps us give us a better idea of a treatment plan.

Tests that can be done at home

At Home Tests for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

A test that is normally performed is Phalen’s test. It is performed by putting the back of your hands together and coming up until there's a bit of flexion in your wrist. Keep it there and Hold for about 30 seconds. If you feel a burning, tingling or numbness pain, that is a positive test for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Another test that can be done is performed by tapping light tapping of the wrist along with an upward movement of the arm. If that causes some tingling, or numbness pain in the wrist, that is also a positive test.

At Home Tests for Pronator Teres Syndrome

For Pronator Teres, a test that can be performed is Tinel's test. This can be done by tapping on the upper forearm. If this causes pain and or numbness even in just the fingers, this is a positive test for Pronator Teres.

Another test can be done by contracting and extending the arm along the elbow joint. If that causes pain down the wrist and hand. then we have a positive

test for Pronator Teres.