A disorder that is caused from the compression or swelling in the median nerve of the wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome cause tingling, numbness and pain. These symptoms are often felt in the palm of the hand, thumb and first three fingers. It is a gradually developing disorder and the cause is not fully understood. Carpal tunnel syndrome has been linked to diabetes, arthritis, bone enlargement, reduced thyroid function, pregnancy, uremia, tendon inflammation and amyloidosis.
This disorder is often found in assembly line workers, writers, data entry workers, carpenters, and anyone else who either use vibrating machinery or use their wrists in a repetitive manner. Those who spend a lot of time on hobbies that affect the wrists like knitting, gardening and rowing may also see an increase in this problem. If you start to feel a tingling, numbness or pain in your hand, fingers and wrist, you may want to see your doctor. The exam will check for inflammation and your range of movement for your wrist. There are a few tests your doctor can do. Phalen's test attempts to recreate the symptoms by flexing your wrists.
Tingling, numbness or pain the hand, fingers or wrist may be sign of carpal tunnel syndrome and should be checked by a doctor. During the examination the doctor may check for inflammation, check the range of movement in the wrist or try a test like Phalen's test, which recreates flexing of the wrist to try to bring on symptoms, or Tinel's test which check the median nerve for sensitivity. The most common treatment is the prescription of anti inflammatory medications, which patients often report, help relieve pain. There is not scientific proof, though, that such medications work.
Another treatment your doctor may try is a wrist brace. Wrist braces are sold over the counter in drug stores or pharmacy areas of department stores. The brace helps to stabilize the wrist and keep it in a neutral position which helps relieve pressure on the median nerve. Sometimes corticosteroid injections have been found to help to relieve pain. Most of these types of treatments help people with early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
These recommendations can work for some people in the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. Severe cases are usually referred for surgery. Surgery is usually the answer if the other treatments have made no improvement on the condition over the course of several weeks. To relieve the problem, an incision is made in the palm and wrist. There is a flat ligament that runs from left to right at the bottom of the palm that covers the median nerve. It is called the transverse carpal ligament. The surgeon cuts the ligament from top to bottom, releasing the pressure on the nerve.
This usually relieves the problem unless there has been permanent damage done to the nerve. Recovery takes several weeks before the patient can return to light duty at work. By six weeks, they can return to normal duty. This surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis with a local anesthetic.
An alternative to surgery is often physical therapy. The therapy involves exercises that are taught to you by a physical therapist. You do the exercises at home between sessions. These exercises can be a very effective treatment and alternative to surgery.
This disorder is often found in assembly line workers, writers, data entry workers, carpenters, and anyone else who either use vibrating machinery or use their wrists in a repetitive manner. Those who spend a lot of time on hobbies that affect the wrists like knitting, gardening and rowing may also see an increase in this problem. If you start to feel a tingling, numbness or pain in your hand, fingers and wrist, you may want to see your doctor. The exam will check for inflammation and your range of movement for your wrist. There are a few tests your doctor can do. Phalen's test attempts to recreate the symptoms by flexing your wrists.
Tingling, numbness or pain the hand, fingers or wrist may be sign of carpal tunnel syndrome and should be checked by a doctor. During the examination the doctor may check for inflammation, check the range of movement in the wrist or try a test like Phalen's test, which recreates flexing of the wrist to try to bring on symptoms, or Tinel's test which check the median nerve for sensitivity. The most common treatment is the prescription of anti inflammatory medications, which patients often report, help relieve pain. There is not scientific proof, though, that such medications work.
Another treatment your doctor may try is a wrist brace. Wrist braces are sold over the counter in drug stores or pharmacy areas of department stores. The brace helps to stabilize the wrist and keep it in a neutral position which helps relieve pressure on the median nerve. Sometimes corticosteroid injections have been found to help to relieve pain. Most of these types of treatments help people with early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
These recommendations can work for some people in the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. Severe cases are usually referred for surgery. Surgery is usually the answer if the other treatments have made no improvement on the condition over the course of several weeks. To relieve the problem, an incision is made in the palm and wrist. There is a flat ligament that runs from left to right at the bottom of the palm that covers the median nerve. It is called the transverse carpal ligament. The surgeon cuts the ligament from top to bottom, releasing the pressure on the nerve.
This usually relieves the problem unless there has been permanent damage done to the nerve. Recovery takes several weeks before the patient can return to light duty at work. By six weeks, they can return to normal duty. This surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis with a local anesthetic.
An alternative to surgery is often physical therapy. The therapy involves exercises that are taught to you by a physical therapist. You do the exercises at home between sessions. These exercises can be a very effective treatment and alternative to surgery.
About the Author:
People who develop carpal tunnel syndrome usually notice the symptoms gradually. It begins with burning, tingling or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and fingers, especially the thumb, index and middle fingers.If you begin to notice these symptoms, take action right away, as CTS will progress unless habits are changed. Check this link easy carpal tunnel exercises that will help ease the pain of CTS.
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