Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Definition

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a form of repetitive stress injury. It usually occurs in women between ages 30 and 60. But it may also be occur in  men, if he has employed as assembly-line workers or  repeatedly use poorly designed tools. Any strenuous use of the hands - sustained grasping, twisting, or flexing - aggravates this condition.

Causes of carpal tunnel syndrome

• Repetitive stress injury
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Flexor tenosynovitis
• Nerve compression
• Acromegaly
• Pregnancy
• Multiple myeloma
• Diabetes mellitus
• Amyloidosis
• Hypothyroidism
• Obesity

The carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament form the carpal tunnel. Inflammation or fibrosis of the tendon sheaths that pass through the carpal tunnel usually causes by edema and compression of the median nerve. This compression neuropathy that may causes sensory and motor changes in the median distribution of the hands, initially impairing sensory transmission to the thumb, second finger, and inner aspect of the third finger.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

• Weakness
• Pain
• Burning
• Numbness
• Tingling in one or both hands

The pain may spread to the forearm and, in severe cases, it may spread to the shoulder. You can treat such pain by shaking or rubbing her hands vigorously or dangling her arms at her side. When you will use your wrist continued, then it may increase tendon inflammation, compression, and neural ischemia, causing a decrease in wrist function. Untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome may also produce permanent nerve damage with loss of movement and sensation.

Treatment of Carpal tunnel syndrome

• You should be use conservative treatment such as resting the hands by splinting the wrist in neutral extension for 1 to 2 weeks.
• Injection of the carpal tunnel with hydrocortisone and lidocaine may provide significant but temporary relief.
• If conservative treatment fails, then you should be use surgical decompression of the nerve by resecting the entire transverse carpal tunnelligament.
• You can also use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs it usually provide symptomatic relief.
• During treatment, you should avoid using your hand too much and also avoid bending your wrists down for long periods.
• After surgery, you should monitor vital signs and regularly check the color, sensation, and motion of the affected hand.
• If you are using a keyboard a lot, then you should adjust the height of your chair so that your forearms are level with your keyboard and you don't have to flex your wrists to type.