Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as CTS, is a condition of the wrist in which the median nerve becomes compressed near the wrist and causes pain
. This pain can cause abnormal muscle weakness in the hand.
Although it is more commonly found in women, it has affected many men as well. Carpal tunnel can strike at any age.
Most cases of carpal tunnel have an unknown cause. Activities that use the hands extensively are often blamed for the development of this syndrome.
It occasionally develops from wrist injury. Sprains or fractures that cause swelling, rheumatoid arthritis, mechanical problems in the wrist joint, work stress, frequent or repeated us of vibrating hand tools, and fluid retention during pregnancy are all possible causes.
The symptoms do not strike all of a sudden, but they begin gradually and slowly grow over time. The symptoms of carpal tunnel include frequent burning, tingling, itchiness, or numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers.
The discomfort is often centered on and between the thumb and middle fingers. These symptoms usually first show themselves when the afflicted person wakes up in the morning, as most people sleep with flexed wrists. It can manifest itself in only one hand or both.
As the carpal tunnel gets worse, the afflicted person may begin to sense tingling throughout the entire day. Then, they may begin to have a decreased ability to grip things strongly.
As time passes, it may become difficult to make a fist, grab light objects, or do many other daily tasks. If the carpal tunnel is not treated and is classified as chronic, the muscles around the base of the thumb may decay.
Due to this fact, it is vital that the treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome should begin as soon as possible. Begin by visiting a doctor to learn what treatments should be performed for your specific case.
The outward symptoms are the most noticeable ailments, but the underlying problems will need to be treated first. With carpal tunnel syndrome it is important to work from the inside out.
An underlying cause may be arthritis. Once the carpal tunnel can be treated, the doctor will usually start by resting the afflicted hand or hands for at least two weeks.
This will help prevent the symptoms from becoming worse. He will probably recommend wearing a wrist splint to avoid accidentally straining the wrist again.
If the wrist is swollen, the doctor will also recommend using cold packs and keeping the wrist elevated to help bring the swelling down. The doctor may also recommend surgery if the condition is severe enough and it can help.
Some experts even believe that it is more related to the inflammation that other activities cause, and will recommend vitamin B6 to fight it. However, this vitamin is surprisingly hard to get enough of because of food processing and preparation.
As a result it can take a full two to four weeks after supplementation to achieve a point where it can fully function again. A lack of vitamin B6 can cause nerve damage in the hands and in the feet.
The feeling of tingling results directly from this deficiency of vitamin B. In order to fight this syndrome effectively, it is recommended that an afflicted person take supplements of vitamin B of 50mg to 300mg every day.
The doctor familiar with the condition will be able to recommend specific dosages and lengths of time to take the vitamin. When vitamin B is combined with vitamin B1, Thiamine, and vitaminB12, a natural pain killer is created that can help relieve some of the painful symptoms that are present.
This syndrome is an extremely painful and debilitating condition. It is very important that it is seen and treated by doctor as soon as possible to avoid deterioration of the hands.
by: Tom Selwick
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