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Do you experience frequent pain, numbness or weakness in your hand? It is time you stopped ignoring these indications. Often malady as simple as palm pain may become leading symptoms for a painful palm and hand disorder called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Women Beware! Carpal tunnel syndrome is more prevalent among women compared to men.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerves (that provide sensation to thumb, index finger and middle finger) become compressed as they travel through the carpal tunnel located in the wrist. This median nerve compression (that typically occurs when ligaments in the carpal tunnel become swollen or inflamed) leads to numbness, pain and hand weakness that eventually translate in to sharp shooting pain in the wrist and hands.
Symptoms that indicate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may affect either one or both hands. Symptoms for this disorder usually begin as numbness in thumb and fingers, tingling and burning sensations in the hand that soon escalate to become sharp shooting pain in the palm and entire hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are more prominently experienced during nights compared to daytimes when the affected hand becomes warm. Often during nights the affected person may become unable to sleep due to increasing pain in palm and hands.
Here are a few warning signs to look out for:
- Initial pain, tingling and numbness in fingers (more predominant on one side of the third finger, little finger remains unaffected)
- Acute pain in the arm (sometimes up to the elbow)
- Swollen fingers
- Weakness in hand especially while performing activities such as holding objects, driving vehicle, etc.
- Continuous loss of feeling in fingers and a tendency to drop objects.
What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome may be caused due to traumatic or non-traumatic factors. Traumatic causes denote specific happenings that trigger this disorder whereas non-traumatic causes develop over a period of time and are not due to any specific events. Take a look at what causes carpal tunnel syndrome:
- Traumatic causes include:
- Arm fractures
- Dislocation of carpal bones
- Abnormal healing of bone fractures and resulting deformities
- Formation of hematoma inside the wrist, Etc.
- Non-traumatic causes include:
- Joint inflammation and swelling
- Fluid retention during pregnancy and hypothyroidism
- Acromegaly (disorder of growth hormones)
- Any form of tumor
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Menopause
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Maintaining improper posture while performing frequently repetitive activities such as motorcycle riding, typing, using computer, playing musical instruments, etc, are also causes for this disorder.As a general rule persons carrying out repetitive as well as forceful jobs with hands that result in awkward or stressed motions, such as using power tools, frequent typing and computer usage, etc are more prone to this disorder.
How to Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Treatment for the disorder varies depending on the severity of the syndrome.For mild discomforts simple home treatments might suffice. Use a hot water bottle on the affected area to relax aching muscles and to reduce pain and soreness.If there is swelling then dab the area with an ice pack. It is also advisable to wear a wrist splint for around four to six weeks.
In case symptoms are severe it calls for comprehensive medical care. Medical treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome may be in any of the following forms:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in joints.
- Incase conditions worsens then prescribed steroid medication may be injected directly into the carpal canal.
- In most advance cases surgery is performed in order to relieve pressure from the nerve through a mild insertion in order to release the ligament thereby increasing size of the carpal tunnel.
Permanent injury is rare among persons affected by this condition. Treatments help to regain normal use of hands. However one needs to be careful about hand movement patterns and avoid improper positioning of hands.It is advisable to take frequent brakes while engaging in continuous as well as repetitive hand motions.
Here are few tips to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome
- Do not use too much force while performing routine activities such as riding, typing, etc
- Take frequent breaks while performing repetitive activities
- Take care to maintain proper posture
- Try and keep hands warm to avoid hand pain and stiffness.
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