Confusion is often seen between carpal tunnel and arthritis, as both of these issues affect wrists and hands, causing pain. However, they are distinct conditions. Carpal tunnel, commonly referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome, is a condition in which the tissues on the inside of the ligaments, wrist, and tendons get inflamed and begin to press on the median nerve, causing nerve pain. On the other hand, arthritis is a disease that affects the joints, causing stiffness, swelling, and pain, limiting the range of motion. But that’s not all; there are other ways as well in which both of these pain-causing ailments differ. Read ahead to know what symptoms they carry and know about the key differences.

Symptoms
Both carpal tunnel and arthritis can become serious concerns if left untreated. Many people remain unaware of their severity and go on to ignore their symptoms until these issues start affecting them to a great extent. Thus, it’s suggested to keep a note of the early signs that both of these ailments possess so that proper action can be taken when required.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms
This is an issue that starts slowly and gradually progresses without any known injury or clear cause linked to it. Its symptoms may come and go but become a serious issue over time. They seriously affect the individual at night, causing them a lot of distress. Following are some of its linked symptoms for which doctors suggest using the best wrist brace for carpal tunnel.

●    Swelling: You might feel your fingers getting swollen as the tissues in and around the carpal tunnel get swollen.

●    Pain: It’s normal to feel pain in the wrist, hand, and arm, sometimes in the elbow as well. This pain can worsen at night and might interrupt your sleep as well.

●    Numbness, tingling, or burning: You might experience these sensations first in the thumb, index, and middle finger. In certain cases, this pain can move towards the elbow as well.

●    Weakness: You might face weakness in the thumb and ring fingers of the concerned hand. This might make it difficult for you to grip and have a hold of objects due to which your hand may feel clumsy.

Arthritis Symptoms
All three types of arthritis—rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)—can impact the hands and their ability to function. These symptoms vary from person to person, and their severity also goes on changing with time. Certain arthritis can also affect organs, such as the heart, eyes, and skin, making it harder for the healthcare expert to know whether these are a result of arthritis or some other health ailment. Have a look at some common arthritis symptoms to better assess whether you need the best wrist support for arthritis or not.

●    Pain: This is the most common symptom of arthritis, and the pain can range from mild to severe and might worsen in the case of activities needing excess strength.

●    Stiffness: It’s commonly felt in the morning or after times of inactivity.

●    Swelling: The affected joints would appear swollen or puffy.

●    Redness and warmth: The affected area may look red and feel warm to touch.

●    Fatigue: Due to chronic pain and inflammation, you might feel fatigue and tiredness.

●    Other symptoms: These include skin discoloration, scaly itchy skin, rashes, fever, and unexplained weight loss.

Key Differences Between Carpal Tunnel And Arthritis
Despite carpal tunnel and arthritis causing hand and wrist pain, they are bound to target different parts of the body while carrying different symptoms. Moreover, the way they target hands and wrists is also different. Have a look at the key differences that both of these pain-related ailments carry.

●    Cause: Carpal tunnel is an issue that only targets the wrists and hands. It occurs due to the compression of the median nerve that leads to the hand, reaching the palm from the forearm. The compression is a result of the swelling or irritation caused to the tendons. Other possible causes for it include a wrist injury, pregnancy, genetics, and thyroid as well. On the other hand, arthritis is an issue affecting the joints that might occur as a result of multiple causes. These include inflammation and damage to the joint, breakdown of cartilage and other joint tissues over time, aging, obesity, smoking, genetics, the immune system attacking its own tissues, metabolic conditions, and more.

●    Symptoms: Carpal tunnel syndrome typically causes symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning, and pain in the index, thumb, middle, and ring fingers, along with finger weakness and swelling. For arthritis, the symptoms would be stiffness, pain, swelling in the joints of the hands or wrist, and facing issues like limited range of motion.

●    Affected areas: Carpal tunnel affects only the wrist and hands, causing issues like tingling, numbness, burning, and pain in the fingers and thumb, while arthritis can affect any joint of the body.

●    Treatment: Possible treatment for carpal tunnel includes wearing a splint, doing nerve-gliding exercises, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or getting corticosteroid injections injected into the carpal tunnel. The possible treatment for arthritis includes taking pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications, opting for physical therapy, and using splints and braces. In some serious cases, the doctor might also prescribe a surgical treatment as well, including joint replacement and joint fusion.

In Summary
While both carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis affect the wrists and hands, causing pain and other discomforts, it’s crucial to understand their diverse symptoms and causes to opt for their proper diagnosis and treatment. Although both of them share some similarities in the discomforts that they cause, the treatment they require is different. If you're experiencing constant wrist or hand pain, it's crucial to consult a healthcare professional as early as possible to prevent the issue from worsening. For added assistance, you can take help from SNUG360, which is a reliable brand offering exceptional medical products.