Skip to main content

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome


What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?


Carpal tunnel syndrome is an overuse injury.  Common causes of the disorder involve repetitive fine motor movements: knitting, crochet, stitchery, computer usage, and video games, for example.  The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome occur because the median nerve, which runs through the small bones of the wrist, becomes compressed by swollen tendons and the ligament that occupy the same passage between the hand and the arm.  Over time, the overuse causes  inflammation and eventually leads to nerve damage.


What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?  


Early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include burning, itching, numbness and/or tingling in the palm, the  thumb and first fingers of the hand. It is not uncommon to experience the sensation of hand(s) "falling asleep" during the night. Eventually the symptoms progress and this sensation may occur at other times of day; the patient's grip strength may weaken. It is possible for the muscles at the base of the thumb to waste away, loss of sensitivity to heat/cold may develop.       


How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed and treated?


Physical examination is the first step in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.  Nerve conduction and electromyography (EMG) may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.  Ultrasound and MRI can also be used.

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome initially involves resting the involved hand(s) for a period of time. The wrist may be immobilized using a rigid wrist brace,splint or other suitable device.  Cool packs can be applied if swelling occurs.

Some pharmaceutical agents can be used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, such as steroids and NSAIDs in select instances. 

Once swelling is reduced, stretching and strengthening exercises may be in order. An occupational therapist is a good resource for this type of treatment. 

Some patients report benefit from treatment via acupuncture or chiropractic medicine. Yoga has also been shown to reduce pain and improve grip strength for some patients.

Carpal tunnel surgery is one of the most common treatment modalities in the US. It is usually and outpatient procedure, meaning that no overnight stay in hospital is required.  There are a number of surgical procedures that can be used, the goal being to reduce the pressure on the median nerve






Some people feel immediate relief following these procedures, but a full recovery can take months.  Complications such as infection can occur, so one needs to be mindful.  That being said, once treated recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome is extremely rare.



 Sources:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm; wikimedia

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately?  Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members.  Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain.  This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story.  Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube
Post a Comment
Read more

Effectiveness Of Ozone Injections Is No Longer Up In The Air

Most of us know someone who has osteoarthritis, if we don't have it ourselves.  Joint replacement surgery is a pretty common remedy when the joint becomes severely damaged and the patient is in a lot of pain.  With risk of complications from such a surgery, perhaps an alternative treatment should be tried first. One such remedy is the injection of a synthetic version of collagen(e.g. Synvisc®) into the affected joint.  This procedure restores the cushioning to a joint that has degenerated over the years. It can diminish the pain substantially and help put off joint replacement surgery for months to years.  The biggest drawback is that these products are expensive.   GoodRX , a web site that can be used to estimate the cost of medications, estimates the cost of these products to be over $1,000 each. Here's another example--and I am not sure how widely accepted this protocol has become since study authors introduced it in November 2015.  Are you ready for this? Inject
Post a Comment
Read more

Beware Of The Tick!

It's tick season, everyone! And while we all know about Lyme Disease and its lingering effects, a new problem has entered the scene. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is another tick-borne disease that has recently been recognized. The CDC says symptoms become apparent anywhere from one week to one month after infection. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, problems with speech and seizures. Approximately half of those infected by this virus have permanent neurological symptoms, which can include muscle wasting, problems with memory, and recurrent headaches. Many people who have been infected with Powassan virus required hospitalization and sometimes even respiratory support (i.e., a respirator). Treatment is focused on supportive measures. In the meantime, preventive measures are the best way to avoid Lyme disease, Powassan virus , or any other tick-borne virus.  You can read more about preventive measures by clicking here . Sour
Post a Comment
Read more