Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - It Might Not Be Just In Your Wrist

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is categorized as a repetitive stress injury that affects the wrist and hand

. It is caused by compression of the median nerve. The media nerve provides innervation to the thumb, index finger, middle finger and 1/two of the ring finger (in addition to half of the palm). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms embrace burning pain, numbness and tingling to the above referenced areas. Occasionally, there is also atrophy (shrinking and weakness) to some of the muscles within the hand (around the palm muscles).

As was mentioned earlier, carpal tunnel syndrome involves the median nerve. This nerve begins within the cervical (neck) region of the spine. It then travels all the way down to the armpit (where the brachial plexus is - a complex net of nerves). From there, the media nerve travels down the arm, past the elbow, into the forearm and then into the wrist, hand and fingers. Anywhere along the path that the nerve travels, it has the potential to get injured.

When a peripheral nerve like the median nerve gets compressed or crushed in 2 or additional areas, that is known as a "double crush syndrome" or a "double crush injury". This condition was 1st described in a very British medical journal known as the Lancet (in 1973).

The three most common areas for the median nerve to get compressed are one) In the neck - (especially when a whiplash injury); 2) in the forearm (especially around the "pronator teres" muscle, because the median nerve runs through the belly of the pronator teres, and when that muscle goes into spasm, it crushes the nerve; and three) in the carpal tunnel itself (that may be a tunnel within the wrist that contains 9 flexor tendons and also the median nerve). When the flexor tendons are irritated, they become inflamed and swell up, and in doing thus, crush the small median nerve that also runs through the same pathway.

The medical approach to treating carpal tunnel syndrome includes pain pills, steroid injections and surgery. All of those have a rather poor track record. The medication don't fix the matter, they solely mask symptoms. You will obtain your time, but ultimately it will catch up to you. And also the surgery, additionally to having a poor success rate (fifty seven% of all surgeries fail - consistent with the analysis), there's also a risk of scar tissue formation, wrist instability and other long term problems.

There is a higher approach to treating carpal tunnel syndrome. These ways address all areas of potential involvement (at the spine, in the arm and at the wrist). The key is to take the pressure off the median nerve wherever it may be happening. Before you endure carpal tunnel release surgery, create positive you are fully evaluated to create positive you don't have issues in alternative areas.

by: Jennifer

POST COMMENT

A Quick View On Irritable Bowel Syndrome What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? What You Should Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome And The Neuroendocrine System Some Facts About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (ibs) What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome: How To Fix It Changes That Will Help Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome: What Is It? Some Things You Need To Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome Healing Irritable Bowel Syndrome The Natural Way Regarding Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Irritable Bowel Syndrome 101