What is the difference between tendonitis and carpal tunnel?
Our family physician just gave my husband splints and told him to take some aleve for his hand problems. His hands and fingers hurt, more so at night, and nothing seems to be helping. We are just trying to figure out what it could be before we see a specialist. What are the major differences between tendonitis and carpal tunnel? Any info. would be helpful!!!
Tendonitis is the inflammation (thus usually the aching) of tendons. Carpal tunnel is an anatomical structure on the distal anterior forearm. If you mean carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), then that is a syndrome whereby the tendons, nerves, and vessels that pass through the carpal tunnel at the wrist become impinged because of an increase in the size of the muscles that pass through them.
Most cases that I’ve seen are NOT true CTS cases. They are misdiagnoses. If this doesn’t work, take him to the chiropractor because the nerve may not be "pinched" in the carpal tunnel but actually in the neck. Results can be phenominal if it’s not really CTS.