Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Can Make Things A Little Hard To Grasp
Carpel tunnel syndrome is a common painful condition that orthopedic doctors in Asheboro NC treat on a daily basis
. Although women seem to be more susceptible to CTS than men, there does not appear to be any single segment of the population more at risk than others to develop carpal tunnel syndrome.
What and where is the carpal tunnel?
There are 27 bones in your hand and eight of these make up what is commonly called the wrist joint. Nerves that travel to your hand and fingers, including the median nerve, carry signals to and from your brain to move muscles in your arm, hand, fingers and thumb. These nerves also provide you with the sense of touch, pain, and temperature.
The transverse carpal ligament is a strong band of tissue that connects the bones to each other where your wrist and palm meet. Underneath the carpal ligament on the palm side of your hand are tendons which protect the muscles that flex your wrist.
Through this maze of bone and tissue is where you can find the carpal tunnel. It is a small opening that is bounded by the eight carpal bones and the carpal ligament. This ligament is a strong band of connective tissue that lies across tendons and the median nerve. It too is located on the palm side of your hand and it is responsible for keeping the tunnel stable.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Because the carpal tunnel is quite small, if any of the tissues passing through it become inflamed or swollen for any reason, the median nerve feels pressure. This pressure interferes with proper functioning of the median nerve, and pain ensues. In most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome there is no single cause, but the following conditions contribute:
o Heredity - carpal tunnels are genetically smaller in some people
o Hormonal changes due to pregnancy
o Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism
o Age - it is more common in older people
o Hand movement and use over time
o Obesity or overweight
o Cigarette smoking
Common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
o Numbness, pain and tingling in your hand
o Clumsiness grasping or manipulating items with your fingers
o Weakened thumb muscles
o Dull non-specific pain, sometimes spreading up the arm to your elbow and shoulder
o An electric shock-like sensation in thumbs and first three fingers
Symptoms usually begin gradually, almost unnoticed, and your first complaint may be a feeling of achiness and numbness in your hands on waking in the morning. The numbness can be eased by shaking your hands. Over time, symptoms become more permanent and can be permanently debilitating.
Can carpal tunnel syndrome be treated non-surgically?
In a word, yes. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be relieved without surgery if it is diagnosed and treated early. Except in severe cases, orthopedic surgeons usually try these and other measures before they consider surgery:
o A brace or splint at night to maintain proper positioning of your wrist while you sleep
o Medications to relieve swelling and pain, such as ibuprofen
o Stopping or changing activity and movements known to cause pain
o Steroid injections
Surgical treatment
If non-surgical treatments do not control your symptoms, your orthopedic doctors may suggest surgery to reduce pressure on your medial nerve.
There are several different procedures to release the too-tight transverse ligament, including arthroscopically, but the standard surgery to relieve pressure on your median nerve is called open release. This operation entails releasing, or cutting, the carpal ligament that crosses your wrist. In this procedure, an open incision at the base of your palm allows a clear view of the wrist structures.
After cutting the ligament, thereby creating more space for your media nerve to work unimpaired, the surgeon stitches just your skin back together. The cut ends of the ligament are left to heal back together into a less constricting length.
What about recovery?
Soon after your surgery, you will likely be asked to move your fingers and elevate your hand above your heart several times a day to reduce swelling and stiffness. You should be able return to normal day-to-day activities in a matter of weeks. Minor soreness, mostly around the incision, and a little weakness in gripping or pinching, may be present for a few months.
I think I might have carpal tunnel syndrome. What should I do?
Try this hand exercise to increase blood flow and move the tissues away from your median nerve. Curling your fingers into a fist, bend your wrist toward the palm of your hand. Open your fingers and bend your wrist back the other way. Do this several times a day. These movements help take pressure off your medial nerve and improve flexibility.
You can also stop whatever activities you notice causes you pain, but do not stop activity altogether. A healthy body needs activity to function normally. Sleep wearing a wrist brace. Stop smoking. Lose weight.
If these measures do not help and your carpal tunnel syndrome shows no signs of improving, get in touch with the orthopedic doctors in Asheboro NC.
by: Shirley G. Dudley
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