What To Do About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a medical condition that develops over time. It is centered in the wrist, along the median nerve that runs through a structure within the wrist known as the carpal tunnel. This is a very small space within that bone structure, and when repetitive motion causes the tendons on either side of that nerve to become inflamed, pressure is exerted upon that nerve. If you have it, you know it, but do you know what treatments can be done for it? That is one of the things we will be discussing in this article.

Symptoms

Sufferers from carpal tunnel syndrome will often experience pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in their fingers and hands. There will also be sensations of pain and numbness radiating out from the wrist to the elbow, all along the length of the median nerve. This will occur most often at night, when the body is at rest, and the hands and arms may be elevated into positions that would normally have them at rest. When you awake, and move your arms, blood flow is restored, and the nerve awakens.

If there is inflammation in the tendons surrounding the nerve, the pressure will cause pain throughout the hand and wrist. Temporary relief can sometimes be had by shaking your hands, just as if they had fallen ?asleep?, and you wanted to restore blood flow.

In advanced cases, there may also be a definite feeling of weakness in the hands and lower arms, as if the tendons have grown slack and cannot support the muscle effort. You may also experience a loss of motion in your wrists, especially if there has been a serious reduction in blood flow to the tendons because of the inflammation.

Causes

The condition is caused by pressure being exerted upon the median nerve that runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This tunnel is formed by the small bones that form the wrist cuff, and when inflammation sets in, either in the bones or the tendons attached to them, the pressure is created, and blood flow reduced to the nerve. This is most often caused by repetitive motion injuries to the wrist, either through constantly keeping the hands lower than the wrist while working, or performing the same wrist rotations over and over again.

If you have ever experience an injury to the wrist area, through sports or other means, over time bone spurs may develop in the previously damaged area. Like rheumatoid arthritis, bone spurs can exert undue pressure within the carpal tunnel, creating the same effects that repetitive motion can create. There are also medical conditions that could contribute to this condition developing, like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, and hypothyroidism. People who smoke, which can reduce blood flow to the extremities, and who may be considered obese may also develop symptoms over time.

Treatment

Once you have been definitively diagnosed, which can include blood tests to rule out other conditions, as well as tests to ascertain whether the median nerve is functioning as it should be, your doctor may recommend some steps that you can do at home to ease minor symptoms of this condition. The more you can do to ease or stop continuing symptoms, the better your chances of preventing long-term damage to the median nerve.

The first thing you should do is to cease any activities that bring about wrist pain or hand pain, if possible. If not, try to rest your wrist between activities for at least a minute or two. Whenever possible, ice your wrist for 10 to 15 minutes, as often as twice an hour. You can also take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, that can reduce the pain and swelling, much like arthritis sufferers do. At night, wear a wrist support device, one that will keep your wrist straight or slightly bent. If after two weeks you see no change, consult with your doctor about stronger medication or the possibility of surgery.

Surgery

Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery is a last resort option. The goal of treatment is to restore as much function as possible, and reducing pain. Surgery would involve cutting the ligament causing the pressure, shortening it and easing the pain.

If you think you might be showing signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, or simply want more information, contact the helpful folks at the Chiropractor Center of Lakeland today. They are experts in their field, and can answer any questions you may have about treatment plans. Also check out our new on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Source: http://www.womenfavor.com/health-and-fitness/hand-wrist-pain/what-to-do-about-carpal-tunnel-syndrome.html

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