What are some Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms? Read on to find out more about this condition, its symptoms and treatment.
Have you ever had tingling or numbness in your hand? If so, you may just have a condition known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? It is a condition in which a nerve in the wrist is compressed.
The Carpal tunnel is a thick fibrous round area at the base of the wrist through which the mediun nerve of the hand and fingers run when exiting the hand. This nerve controls the thumb, index and middle fingers only. So when the nerve is compressed the problem is with these four fingers, not pinky finger. What happens in Carpal Tunnel is this tunnel of fibrous tissue swells and compresses the nerve. This usually happens from overuse of the hands, especially from working or hobbies using the hands and often from use of a computer or keyboard where that area of the hand and wrist are constantly resting on a hard surface or being held up, but the fingers are manipulated constantly.
The pressure causes the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which are:
-numbness and tingling of the affected hand
-pain in the hand, thumb, that may sometimes, shoot the the arm and shoulder
-loss of use or strength of the affected hand
People most likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include, but are not limited to:
-sewers
-keyboard, computer workers or typists
-surgeons
-mechanics
-musicians
-carpenters
-assembly line and factory workers
-meat processors
Without treatment, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the pressure on the nerve can cause permanent damage to the hand and loss of use. Diagnosis is usually made on the symptoms, but nerve conduction studies can be done if necessary. Sometimes just resting the hands or using a wrist splint can ease the inflammation. Oral anti-inflammatory medication is used at times. In severe cases, injections or surgery is performed to correct the problem and prevent nerve damage.
