Overview Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- This is a disorder that causes discomfort and stinging in the hand, forearm and fingers.
- The disorder is caused by pressure on the nerves which goes through the carpal tunnel.
- The median nerve manages movement and feeling in the hand and what happens with carpal tunnel syndrome is the nerve is essentially strained near the wrist.
What Occurs When You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Inflammation within the carpal tunnel causes force to build up and constrict the median nerve which ultimately causes stinging, and discomfort in the hand, fingers and arm.
Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The precise cause of this disorder is unknown. Though, it is known that the pressure on the nerve might have numerous causes and these include:
- Inflammation in the padding of the tendons, known of as tenosynovitis;
- Splintering, joint dislocation or arthritis that constricts the channel;
- Twisting the wrist for extended periods; and
- Fluid build up during pregnancy can cause inflammation and symptoms of the disorder.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Standard symptoms affecting the fingers and hand consist of:
- Pain;
- Lack of feeling;
- Stinging;
- A mixture of all the above; and
- Weakness when picking things up.
Treatment
Often, surgery is not needed to get rid of symptoms. Some examples of methods to managing carpal tunnel syndrome consist of:
- Identification and management of the primary cause of the condition.
- Altering patterns using your hand.
- Keep the wrist straight by using a splint, mainly at night when symptoms might be more serious while disturbing your sleep.
- Some people might benefit from a steroid booster into the carpal tunnel which can decrease the inflammation surrounding the nerve.
Surgery is needed when symptoms fail to recover. The pressure over the nerve is reduced by cutting the ligament of the tunnel on the palm of the hand. The general outcome of the surgery is widening of the tunnel and therefore a reduction in the force applied to the nerve.
Related Video On Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwGPgXL5QLU