Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that affects the median nerve in the wrist. The carpal tunnel consists of a channel made up of the bones, ligaments, nerves, and tendons of your wrist.
The nerve becomes compressed by swelling in the tendon, nerve, or both. The median nerve affects the thumb, index, middle finger, and ring finger on the palm side. So are the hand and forearm muscles. When the median nerve is pinched, these areas can experience tingling, numbness, and pain.
Early symptoms may be numbness in the fingers at night, or a feeling that they have fallen asleep. Upon awakening, the hands may be numb or tingly. The forearm may experience a burning sensation or numbness radiating up the center of the arm possibly up to the shoulder.
Often there is no known cause for carpal tunnel syndrome. Some possible factors are known, for instance, repetitive wrist and hand motion.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can become a chronic condition, but early treatment can reduce symptoms or eliminate them over a period of some months. Severe cases may take longer to heal. Sometimes these cases will not heal completely and can become chronic.
There are things you can do to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Avoid repetitively extending and flexing your wrists. Make sure you position your wrists and hands correctly. Keep your wrists straight when working.
Set up your work station ergonomically to prevent undue pressure and stress on your hands and wrists. Stretching exercises may strengthen your wrists. Keep your wrists straight while sleeping, using splints if necessary.
Take breaks every couple of hours and stretch your hands. Consider using a wrist brace.
A room that is too cold can cause your fingers' blood vessels to become narrower. This limits the blood flow that goes to your muscles and nerves.
A therapist can help you learn how to perform stretches that allow your nerves and tendons to move more smoothly. This can make for less stress on your carpal tunnel.
There are specialists who can make the diagnosis and advise treatment. A physiatrist is a doctor who treats musculoskeletal conditions. An orthopedist specializes in the correction or prevention of disorders or injuries affecting the skeletal system, as well as joints, ligaments, and muscles.
These specialists may want to do an electromyogram (EMG).This will assess nerve and muscle health in arms, wrists and hands. Acupuncture may be beneficial by reducing tension in your nerves and tendons, and may decrease numbness.
Jody Smith is a freelance writer for Empowher.com
Sources:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Health Center
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpal-tunnel-syndrome
Q&A: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/conditions-diseases/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-symptoms
Orthopedist
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Orthopedist
Related Links:
Carpal Tunnel vs Work Productivity, Part 1
http://www.empowher.com/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/content/carpal-tunnel-vs-work-productivity-part-1
Carpal Tunnel vs Work Productivity, Part 2
http://www.empowher.com/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/content/carpal-tunnel-vs-work-productivity-part-2
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
http://www.empowher.com/media/reference/symptoms-carpal-tunnel-syndrome
