Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the condition that results from pinching of one of the nerves in the wrist and hand. The syndrome occurs more often in women and typically after age 30. Carpal tunnel syndrome is easily understood if one begins with the anatomy. The carpal tunnel is formed by a semi-circle of carpal bones on three sides. The fourth side that forms the carpal tunnel is the transverse carpal ligament. Any condition that causes swelling or a change in position of the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the median nerve. The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.
Causes
The exact cause of the swelling usually is not known. Some studies suggest that carpal tunnel syndrome can result from overuse or strain in certain job tasks that require a combination of repetitive, forceful and awkward or stressed motions of your hands and wrists. It is most commonly caused by an injury to the wrist, the use of vibrating hand tools or rheumatoid arthritis, but it also has been linked to other causes, such as a cyst or tumor in the wrist.
Various conditions may alsoplay a role, such as:
* Repetitive, forceful grasping with the hands * Repetitive bending of the wrist * Harmonal changes * Diabetes * Thyroid imbalance * Broken or dislocated bones in the wrist that cause swelling * Pregnancy
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain of the fingers or, less commonly, the palm. Symptoms most often occur in the parts of the hand supplied by the median nerve the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away. Some people are unable to tell between hot and cold by touch.
Treatment
If carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a medical problem, your doctor will probably first treat that problem. Treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome fall into two general categories: surgical and non surgical. Both have potential risks and benefits.
Initial treatment usually includes rest, immobilization of the wrist in a splint, and occasionally ice application. Patients whose occupations are aggravating the symptoms should modify their activities.
Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery is performed on an outpatient basis utilizing a local anesthetic to numb the arm. After the procedure, a splint is applied to the wrist and the patient is discharged and allowed to go home.
Cause
Carpal tunnel syndrome can happen during daily activities because of the excessive pressure applied on the wrist nerves while performing lifting or similar types of stress activities. This results in pain, numbness, stiffness or itching in various parts of the hand.
This syndrome is usually associated with hard physical stress and is considered a work-related hazard. The best way to avoid this problem is to reduce or avoid the activities that would put excessive pressure on the hand and fingers.
Symptoms
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are gradual and would start with soreness, stiffness or deadness in the wrist and other parts of hand. There can be severe pain right from shoulder to finger tip.
Later when the problem is at a severe stage, one may feel itching in the hand, pain and reduced gripping capability. The person may even find it hard to shape the fist, grab or carry light objects, and may find difficulty in carrying out physical tasks involving hand operations. Unfortunately, no one is sure why this problem occurs. It is found in certain people because of an innate predilection - that is when the carpal tunnel in the body is not normal and is comparatively smaller or weak. However, the threat of carpal tunnel syndrome is very common in people who perform assemblage line jobs that involve heavy hand movement.
The bones in the human wrist are typically arranged in an uneven manner, in the form of a semi-circle. A tough ligament, known as the carpal ligament, builds a kind of roof above these bones. This forms a passage called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve, as well as the tendons that help the bending of the fingers and wrist, passes along this tunnel. The median nerve is one of two nerves that gives the hand the feeling ability. This nerve also controls some of the thumb muscles.
The carpal tunnel is perfectly and firmly positioned. If any swelling occurs inside or in nearby areas, the tunnel crushes on the medium nerve and generates the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Tasks like typing, knitting, playing musical instruments like the piano or violin, or the continuous usage of vibrating tools involve constant wrist moments and may result in carpal tunnel syndrome.
Injured or damaged wrists are also vulnerable to develop this condition easily. Rheumatoid arthritis is yet another factor that would aggravate the problem. The disease Acromegaly is another sitaution where growth hormones are formed excessively. Under-active thyroid gland, fluid retention which is caused by kidney failure and even pregnancy can make pressure inside the carpal tunnel, causing the median nerve to be affected.
It has been found that overweight people, pregnant women, women who use contraceptive pills and those experiencing menopause are prone to carpal tunnel syndrome, even though it seems to come without any apparent reason.
Symptoms of the disease also involve aching, tingling, burning, deadness, or pain in the hand and wrist and also in those areas that are linked to the median nerve (index, thumb, middle finger, part of the ring finger). There are also chances that the pain could spread to the arm as well as the shoulder.
These symptoms of pain would normally be higher at night times and in the early morning. Also after heavy labor or work that involve strenuous wrist movements.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect either or both hands with varying severity. In the beginning stage, the symptoms will come and go, but ignoring them would result in chronic pain and would be more difficult to cure. If not treated early, the hand muscles will gradually become feeble and may even result in permanent loss of feeling. Simple tasks like writing would become difficult or even impossible.
Summary:
Carpal tunnel syndrome has become a common problem that happens because of the acute pressure on the wrist nerves that results in aching, deadness, or tingling in various parts of the hand. This can also be a work-related hazard. These types of problems can be avoided by stopping or reducing the activity that exerts pressure on the hands, fingers, and wrist.
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