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[B667]Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
by Juliet Cohen, Jul
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful progressive condition caused by the compression of a key nerve in the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is characterized by numbness, tingling, pain and weakness. The carpal tunnel is caused by increased pressure on a nerve in the hand entering the confined space carpal tunnel. There are many causes of carpal tunnel include heredity, the reverse use over time, hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and menopause and medical conditions, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and of the thyroid gland imbalance. It can occur at any age, but it tends to affect those in their 40s and 50s.

This condition is more common in women than in men. Many people with carpal tunnel syndrome have gradually symptoms increasingly over time. Carpal tunnel syndrome typically begins gradually to a vague pain in the wrist which can be extended to your hand or forearm. The first symptoms of CTS include numbness and paresthesia in the fingers, especially the thumb. Symptoms usually start gradually, with pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day, and decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects.

Several types of drugs have been used in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Corticosteroid injections, given in the area of the carpal tunnel, it may provide relief spectacular symptoms.Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has been reported to relieve some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Corticosteroids may be administered by mouth or injected directly into the affected joint wrist. Physiotherapy provides several ways to treat and monitor carpal tunnel syndrome. Many of prevention is also useful for you. Losing weight if you are overweight.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Cool (ice) packs and prednisone or lidocaine can relieve swelling.

2. Corticosteroids can be given directly into the involved wrist joint.

3. Ultrasound treatment can relieve symptoms in some people.

4. Surgery may be required if the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome persist.

5. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen may ease pain.

6. Exercises can reduce the risk of a double crush of the median nerve.

7. Mecobalamin/Methylcobalamin has been helpful in some cases of CTS.

8. If you use a keyboard a lot, adjust the height of your chair so that your forearms are level with your keyboard.


Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very serious affliction suffered by approximately 3% of the U.S. population, or 9-million workers annually. While symptoms usually begin as a general ache or pain in the wrist and hand, carpal tunnel syndrome is a very serious disorder that can lead to severe dysfunction and possible nerve damage.

Those most at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome are those who have jobs that involve constant repetitive and/or static motion, particularly of the wrists, arms, and hands. While this might instantly bring office workers to mind, this problem stretches well past the basic cubicles of a call center or of a data entry center. Carpal tunnel syndrome actually afflicts more assembly line workers and grocers than computer workers. Grocery checkers are actually considered so highly at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome that even the federal government has singled them out as a group that needs support to combat this affliction.

Men are found to only be 1/3 as likely as women to have carpal tunnel syndrome. The most recognized reason for this is due to the fact that women incur muscle imbalances at a faster rate due to the musculature and their wrists are generally thinner, thus the carpal tunnel is smaller and so it is easier to damage the median nerve that runs through it. Work that requires repetitive flexing of the fingers or wrists will increase the chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Static flexion involving gripping motions such as holding power tools, gripping a steering wheel or holding a pen will also cause the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Bagging groceries and scanning all the various items, not to mention use of the register, is a major reason why grocery checkers are among the most highly afflicted group of workers.

Grocery checkers are so prone to carpal tunnel syndrome and similar injuries that OSHA has specifically singled them out as a prime example of workers who need special considerations in their work environment. The loss from workers compensation and lost time is enough that many employers have worked hard to introduce injury prevention programs. Many of these employers have reported happily that their efforts have had a positive effect on work-related injuries and workers? compensation costs. While the following advice was designed specifically for grocery checkers and grocery stores, it is equally valid for fast food, gas station or convenience store clerks, or any workers in a high volume retail environment.

A report by NIOSH revealed that more than 50% of all food cashiers, (jobs predominantly held by women), suffered some degree of carpal tunnel syndrome and other forms of repetitive strain injuries as a result of the physical demands of scanning products at high speed.

Think ergonomics. What's that? Well ergonomics is basically a process by which the tools and environment around a worker or specifically designed to help take pressure off the parts of the worker's body that are going to experience the most stress and strain. This can apply to back, shoulders, neck, but it also very commonly is used in reference to wrists and wrist injuries, especially carpal tunnel syndrome. OSHA highly recommends that all employers in retail look for ergonomic solutions, and in general the employers that have gone that route have reported seeing a positive difference. One of the main reasons why the government and employers have taken so much interest, and why it so much focus has been put on carpal tunnel syndrome in grocery checkers, is because how vital a grocery store is to every single community, and because of the huge amount of employment that these stores create.

Grocery store work can be physically demanding. It is not at all uncommon for many grocery store workers, even in small towns, to handle thousands of items every day to stock shelves, check groceries, operate the register or prepare inventory. Out of all these actions, the four things to look out for when trying to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome are force, repetition, awkward positions, and static postures, all which contribute to the development of muscle imbalances, the main causative factor of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Trying to find a way to do the work that cuts down on these red flags, and the occurrence of work related injuries would decrease. It is in the employer's best interest to pay attention when an employee gets an injury. There might be some people who don't think carpal tunnel syndrome is a big deal--but they would be mistaken. If an employee has carpal tunnel syndrome, then how is he or she going to do a job that requires constant hand movement, wrist movement, or anything else along those lines?

Because of the way scanners are situated, and because of the job itself, there is always going to be the repetitive motions, the turning of the wrist to scan a bar code, all the little things that can cause severe carpal tunnel syndrome in workers who are keeping up a grocery store. Knowing that this is a problem, however, is the first step to dealing with it. Through ergonomics, special stretches and muscle balancing exercises, and implementing job rotation to prevent one person from doing too much of one job, carpal tunnel syndrome can be prevented, which is always better than waiting until an actual treatment is necessary.

Article Source : Pg. 10

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Both Juliet Cohen & Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Juliet Cohen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Cream, Alternative Medicine and Abdominal. Get information on , hair trends and hair care, including sections dealing with. Juliet Cohen's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.

Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Medicine, Other Conditions and Disease & illness. Jeff P. Anliker, LMT - Providing and products for. Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
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