Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder caused by compression or swelling around the median nerve in the wrist. This causes one to feel tingling, numbness or pain in the palm of the hand, on the thumb and the first three fingers. This is a condition that is usually gradual in its development. The causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are not fully understood, but it may be related or made worse by diabetes, arthritis, bone enlargement, reduced thyroid function, pregnancy, uremia, tendon inflammation, or amyloidosis. There are some suggestions that carpal tunnel syndrome may be caused or at least worsened by repetitive motions.
This disorder is often found in assembly line workers, writers, data entry workers, carpenters, and anyone else who either use vibrating machinery or use their wrists in a repetitive manner. Those who spend a lot of time on hobbies that affect the wrists like knitting, gardening and rowing may also see an increase in this problem. If you start to feel a tingling, numbness or pain in your hand, fingers and wrist, you may want to see your doctor. The exam will check for inflammation and your range of movement for your wrist. There are a few tests your doctor can do. Phalen's test attempts to recreate the symptoms by flexing your wrists.
Tinel's test checks for sensitivity of the median nerve. Your doctor will most likely prescribe anti-inflammatories in the case of swelling around the nerve. There is little evidence whether or not these are effective for carpal tunnel syndrome, but some patients have reported feeling some relief when using them. Another common treatment your doctor will recommend is a wrist brace. You can get these in the pharmacy area of most stores.
Another treatment your doctor may try is a wrist brace. Wrist braces are sold over the counter in drug stores or pharmacy areas of department stores. The brace helps to stabilize the wrist and keep it in a neutral position which helps relieve pressure on the median nerve. Sometimes corticosteroid injections have been found to help to relieve pain. Most of these types of treatments help people with early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
These recommendations can work for some people in the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. Severe cases are usually referred for surgery. Surgery is usually the answer if the other treatments have made no improvement on the condition over the course of several weeks. To relieve the problem, an incision is made in the palm and wrist. There is a flat ligament that runs from left to right at the bottom of the palm that covers the median nerve. It is called the transverse carpal ligament. The surgeon cuts the ligament from top to bottom, releasing the pressure on the nerve.
Recovery from the surgery can take several weeks. After this time light duty at work is recommended and six weeks following the surgery the patient can return to normal duty. It is usually an outpatient surgery.
Alternatively, you may be prescribed a course of physical therapy in some cases. This is a course of therapy that may be more effective if more people were educated about it. During the therapy, a physical therapist will take you through some exercises and teach you how to do them at home in between sessions. Exercises and stretches can be very effective for treating this problem.
This disorder is often found in assembly line workers, writers, data entry workers, carpenters, and anyone else who either use vibrating machinery or use their wrists in a repetitive manner. Those who spend a lot of time on hobbies that affect the wrists like knitting, gardening and rowing may also see an increase in this problem. If you start to feel a tingling, numbness or pain in your hand, fingers and wrist, you may want to see your doctor. The exam will check for inflammation and your range of movement for your wrist. There are a few tests your doctor can do. Phalen's test attempts to recreate the symptoms by flexing your wrists.
Tinel's test checks for sensitivity of the median nerve. Your doctor will most likely prescribe anti-inflammatories in the case of swelling around the nerve. There is little evidence whether or not these are effective for carpal tunnel syndrome, but some patients have reported feeling some relief when using them. Another common treatment your doctor will recommend is a wrist brace. You can get these in the pharmacy area of most stores.
Another treatment your doctor may try is a wrist brace. Wrist braces are sold over the counter in drug stores or pharmacy areas of department stores. The brace helps to stabilize the wrist and keep it in a neutral position which helps relieve pressure on the median nerve. Sometimes corticosteroid injections have been found to help to relieve pain. Most of these types of treatments help people with early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
These recommendations can work for some people in the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. Severe cases are usually referred for surgery. Surgery is usually the answer if the other treatments have made no improvement on the condition over the course of several weeks. To relieve the problem, an incision is made in the palm and wrist. There is a flat ligament that runs from left to right at the bottom of the palm that covers the median nerve. It is called the transverse carpal ligament. The surgeon cuts the ligament from top to bottom, releasing the pressure on the nerve.
Recovery from the surgery can take several weeks. After this time light duty at work is recommended and six weeks following the surgery the patient can return to normal duty. It is usually an outpatient surgery.
Alternatively, you may be prescribed a course of physical therapy in some cases. This is a course of therapy that may be more effective if more people were educated about it. During the therapy, a physical therapist will take you through some exercises and teach you how to do them at home in between sessions. Exercises and stretches can be very effective for treating this problem.
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