What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Have you been ignoring a tingling or numbness feeling in your hand and wrists? How about the sharp, shooting pain through the wrist and up you arm? These symptoms can be a sign of having carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful and progressive condition brought on by compression of a key nerve in the wrist, the median nerve. The carpal tunnel is the bony section where the nerve and nine tendons pass from your arm into the hand.
There are a variety of causes as many different things can create the pressure on the nerve and contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Some of the most common causes include but are not limited to:
Tendons swelling
Dislocating the joint
Fracture
Arthritis
High-energy repetitive motion
Fluid retention (often during pregnancy)
It is best to consult with a qualified doctor to determine what the best form of treatment is for you as there are so possible causes. Those who suffer from this condition experience chronic symptoms. They experience things including:
Numbness
Pins-and-needles feeling
Weakened grip strength
Pain in both or one hand
The median nerve controls all sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers causing a discomfort in your thumb, index fingers, middle fingers, palms, and wrists. These symptoms can arise anytime but most commonly during everyday tasks such as driving or reading. In severe cases people can experience a permanent loss of sensation and strength.
Treatment options can be discussed with your doctor and he or she may order physical examinations to test the function and mobility of all the major nerves in both arms. Your doctor may bring also bring on a neurologist for more studies to confirm a diagnosis. Carpal tunnel can be relieved without the need for surgery and physical therapy can be one option for treatment to change the way your hands are used. People may use a wrist splint or be ordered to receive steroid injections in order to reduce any onsite swelling.
