Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Causes and Treatment

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition that affects hand movements. It occurs when the median nerve in the wrist gets compressed. The carpal tunnel consists of multiple bones within the wrist, and the roof of the carpal tunnel includes the transverse carpal ligament. Even the median nerve with nine tendons passes through the carpal tuner.

When there’s an enlargement of these tendons and inflammation of the median nerve, it results in carpal tunnel syndrome. Due to this syndrome, there is pressure on the median nerve and it further leads to dysfunction of wrist movement.

Common Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Due to the median nerve inside the carpal tunnel, there’s a sensation in your thumb, middle finger, index finger and half of the ring finger. It even gives motion to four hand muscles (opponens pollicis, first and second lumbricals, flexor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis brevis).

• Numbness in 1-4 digits (index, thumb, middle and ring fingers)
• Wrist and hand pain
• Feeling of electric shock through the hand and wrist
• Tingling and burning in 1-4 digits
• Weakness of thumb
• Bad sleep quality due to numbness or/and tingling of the hand
• Reduced hand dexterity

All these symptoms increase when you move the wrist forward and increase the pressure on the carpal tunnel’s median nerve.

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The pain is due to the excessive pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. It can also cause inflammation and swelling or even obstruct normal blood flow. Some common conditions associated with carpal tunnel syndrome are:

• Thyroid dysfunction
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Menopause or fluid retention due to pregnancy
• Trauma or fractures to the wrist
• Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis

Carpal Tunnel Gloves can be very helpful in this syndrome. You should try this product to overcome this syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can turn worse if you repeatedly overextend your wrist. The repeated wrist motion can lead to compression of the median nerve and swelling. This could happen due to:

• Prolonged exposure to vibrations caused by using any power tools or hand tools
• Positioning wrists at a certain angle while using a mouse or keyboard
• The repeated movement that can make your wrist overextend, such as typing or playing piano

Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A physician can diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome by using a physical examination text, your medical history and nerve conduction tests.

A physical examination helps in a detailed evaluation of the wrist, hand, shoulder and neck. It is required to check any nerve pressure issues. The doctor will lock for any signs of swelling, tenderness and deformities in your wrist. He/she will also check muscle strength in your hand and sensations to your fingers.

The nerve conduction tests help in measuring the overall conduction speed of the nerve impulses. If your nerve impulses are slower than normal, you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.

Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The treatment of this condition depends on the severity of symptoms and pain. Given below are some common treatment methods to get rid of carpal tunnel syndrome:

Nonsurgical Options:

• Carpal Tunnel Gloves: Carpal Tunnel Gloves are anatomically designed item to enable full use of your fingers. The fabric’s outer layer is textured for offering a firm grip for handling daily activities. This glove comes with a metal splint that’s attached at 25 degrees to prevent excessive wrist movements that may lead to CTS.
• Mild pain medication may be prescribed to reduce inflammation
• Steroid injections may be injected into the affected area to reduce inflammation
• Treatment of underlying conditions, such as arthritis or diabetes

Surgical Option:

Surgical treatment helps to cure the severe damage to the median nerve. For this procedure, a surgeon will cut the band of tissue in your wrist to reduce pressure on the nerve. Factors determining the failure and success of the treatment are the duration of symptoms, age of the patient, weakness, etc. The result after surgical treatment is generally good.

Conclusion

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the normal movement of your hand and wrist. You must consult a physician as soon as you notice any symptoms associated with CTS. The doctor will prescribe you the right treatment and medications to get rid of this condition.