Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) gives a mixed bag of symptoms, but all symptoms are located in the affected wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an equal opportunity pain in the wrist(s), afflicting people from all walks of life and in every career field.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms
The mixed bag of symptoms that carpal tunnel syndrome can present with includes wrist numbness and wrist pain simultaneously. The numbness and pain can extend from the wrist down to the fingers. Some CTS sufferers also experience a tingling sensation in the afflicted wrist and hand that feels like hundreds of needles being jabbed into the flesh. The wrist and hand afflicted with carpal tunnel syndrome will also be weakened.
How Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Occur?
The bones that form the wrist fit together with an opening running through the center of the wrist bone formation. The opening is called the carpal tunnel, and it’s through this carpal tunnel that nerves and tendons pass through the wrist to get to the hand and fingers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the nerves and tendons are compressed inside the carpal tunnel, resulting in swelling and inflammation. Any repetitive motion in which the hands are positioned lower than the wrists for prolonged periods of time can result in the wrist nerves and tendons becoming swollen and inflammed. Using the computer keyboard, running a cash register or any other activity (often work related) that requires the constant use of hands and wrists.
Health Related Risk Factors of CTS
While repetitive wrist and hand motions are the primary cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, there are health issues that place a person at a higher risk for developing CTS.
A history of wrist injury, arthritis, obesity, smoking, pregnancy, diabetes and thyroid disease can increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Mild symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be relieved by changing hand position and allowing the hands and wrists to rest for a few moments at regular intervals during the work day. Allow hands to hang down at each side of the body for a couple of minutes when the numbness, pain or tingling first begin. Exercises designed specifically for stretching the tendons in the wrists can also help prevent and/or relieve the CTS pain.
Acute symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be sometimes be relieved by wearing wrists splints that will force hands and wrists to remain on an even keel while working. Wrist splints worn at night help relieve the nighttime pain of CTS. Placing ice packs on the afflicted wrist for 10-15 minutes a few times a day will help reduce the swelling, inflammation and pain.
Surgery is also a treatment option for carpal tunnel syndrome. The surgical treatment will involve the clipping of some of the nerves in the wrist in an attempt to stop the CTS pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can afflict anyone, always causing wrist and/or hand pain to some degree. The best treatment for pain depends on the severity of the CTS pain.
Source: www.medicinenet.com/carpal_tunnel_syndrome/article.htm
Helen Stewart - Ms. Stewart resides in Georgia where she is enjoying her career as a freelance writer. She writes for many online publications including ...
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