Name a potential complication of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Permanent nerve damage is a significant potential complication of carpal tunnel syndrome. In this condition, the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, becomes compressed due to various factors like inflammation, swelling, or mechanical pressure. If this compression is not addressed, it can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the nerve, resulting in prolonged exposure to the pressure and potentially causing the nerve to suffer permanent damage.

This damage may manifest as persistent numbness, weakness, or pain in the hand and fingers long after the initial symptoms have appeared. Addressing carpal tunnel syndrome early through conservative treatments or surgical intervention can prevent this serious complication, highlighting the importance of timely diagnosis and management.

Though other options may describe symptoms or conditions that can arise in various contexts, they do not directly relate to the long-term consequences associated with untreated carpal tunnel syndrome in the same way that permanent nerve damage does.