Somewhat like arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome often afflicts people in the joints. It only hits the hands fortunately.  However, the symptoms generally appear gradually, and it can lead to pain in the joints as well as a feeling of burning, itching, tingling, and numbness, much like arthritis.  The pain can over time become completely excruciating, even keeping people up at night or waking them from sleep in some cases.  Generally speaking, it is caused by trauma to the median nerve.  However, a person with small wrists could be more susceptible in general terms as could certain other individuals.  Women have it 3 times more frequently than do men. 

One can be genetically predisposed as well as suffering from hormonal disorders like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and an overactive pituitary gland.  Rheumatoid arthritis can actually contribute to it as the fluid buildup during pregnancy can.  Obesity can contribute to this and make it worse in some cases, though that is not always the cause.  It will still exist outside of obesity.  There are various things that can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.  But once you have it, your treatment options are still at this point limited.  The most serious treatment option, surgery, can actually be botched and make it worse, it can make your functioning in general worse.