Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful disorder of the wrist and hand. The carpal tunnel is a narrow tunnel formed by the bones and other tissues of your wrist. This tunnel protects your median nerve. The median nerve gives you feeling in your thumb, and index, middle and ring fingers. But when other tissues in the carpal tunnel, such as ligaments and tendons, get swollen or inflamed, they press against the median nerve. That pressure can make part of your hand hurt or feel numb.

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Most cases of Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) are idiopathic. Pressure on the median nerve is the main cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is mostly idiopathic, or it may result from:

repetitive stress injury
rheumatoid arthritis
flexor tenosynovitis (commonly associated with rheumatic disease)
nerve compression
pregnancy
multiple myeloma
diabetes mellitus
acromegaly
hypothyroidism
amyloidosis
obesity
benign tumor
other conditions that increase fluid pressure in the wrist, including alterations in the endocrine or immune systems
wrist dislocation or sprain, including Colles' fracture followed by edema.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are many symptoms of Carpal tunnel syndrome these are :

Numbness or tingling in your hand and fingers, especially the thumb and index and middle fingers.
Pain in your wrist, palm or forearm.
More numbness or pain at night than during the day. The pain may be so bad it wakes you up. You may shake or rub your hand to get relief.
More pain when you use your hand or wrist more.
Trouble gripping objects.
Weakness in your thumb.

Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Diagnoses depend on signs and symptoms of this disease. Electromyography and nerve condition study will be recommended by the health care providers. Small electrical discharges in muscles may be measured by Electromyography. Doctor wants to study by inserted thin-needle electrode into the affected area. Sometimes a shock is transmitted into median nerve to diagnose the disease.

Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a medical problem and your doctor will probably first treat that problem.

Your doctor may ask you to rest your wrist or change how you use your hand. Your doctor may also ask you to wear a splint on your wrist. The splint keeps your wrist from moving but lets your hand do most of what it normally does. A splint can help ease the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome, especially at night.

Non-surgical Treatment

Exercise - Stretching and strengthening exercises can be helpful in people whose symptoms have abated. These exercises may be supervised by a physical therapist, who is trained to use exercises to treat physical impairments, or an occupational therapist, who is trained in evaluating people with physical impairments and helping them build skills to improve their health and well-being.

Alternative therapies - Acupuncture and chiropractic care have benefited some patients but their effectiveness remains unproved. An exception is yoga, which has been shown to reduce pain and improve grip strength among patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Drugs - Various drugs can ease the pain and swelling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonprescription pain relievers, may ease symptoms that have been present for a short time or have been caused by strenuous activity. Orally administered diuretics ("water pills") can decrease swelling. Corticosteroids (such as prednisone) or the drug lidocaine can be injected directly into the wrist or taken by mouth (in the case of prednisone) to relieve pressure on the median nerve and provide immediate, temporary relief to persons with mild or intermittent symptoms.

Surgery Treatment

Surgery usually results in marked improvement, but you may experience some residual numbness, pain, stiffness or weakness. Surveys of people who have undergone carpal tunnel release indicate that about 70 percent are completely or very satisfied with the outcome of their surgery. Some variables that are associated with lower levels of satisfaction include consuming more than two alcoholic drinks a day, smoking, lower mental and physical health status before surgery, and exposure to repetitive, forceful activity - but not including keyboard use.

Prevention Tips of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Lose your weight if you're overweight.
You should reduce your force to perform any activities.
rop up your arm with pillows when you lie down.
Avoid using your hand too much.
Find a new way to use your hand by using a different tool.
Don't sit or stand in the same position all day.
Take regular breaks from repeated hand movements to give your hands and wrists time to rest.
Don't work with your arms too close or too far from your body.
Don't rest your wrists on hard surfaces for long periods.
Switch hands during work tasks.

|| Home || Contact Us || Resources ||