Most Common Risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

May 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs as a result of compression of the median nerve.

The median nerve runs from your forearm through a passageway in your wrist (carpal tunnel) to your hand. It provides sensation to the palm side of your thumb and fingers, with the exception of your little finger. It also provides nerve signals to move the muscles around the base of your thumb (motor function).

In general, anything that crowds, irritates or compresses the median nerve in the carpal tunnel space can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. For example, a wrist fracture can narrow the carpal tunnel and irritate the nerve, as can the swelling and inflammation resulting from rheumatoid arthritis.

Signs and Symptoms

- Tingling or numbness. You may experience tingling and numbness in your fingers or hand, especially your thumb and index, middle or ring fingers, but not your little finger. This sensation often occurs while holding a steering wheel, phone or newspaper or, commonly, waking you from sleeping. The sensation may extend from your wrist up your arm.

- Many people "shake out" their hands to try to relieve their symptoms. As the disorder progresses, the numb feeling may become constant.

- Weakness. You may experience weakness in your hand and a tendency to drop objects. This may be due to the numbness in your hand or weakness of the thumb's pinching muscles, which are controlled by the median nerve.

What are the treatment options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The aim of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is to reduce pressure on the median nerve, thus relieving the symptoms and possibly stopping the syndrome's progression.

Patients with just mild symptoms may find their condition improves without any treatment within a few months. This is especially the case with people aged 30 or less and pregnant mothers.

In worse cases visiting a Physiotherapist is the best option, A Physiotherapist will have a variety of treatments from using TENS and Ultrasound Modalities to reduce inflammation and various stretches to reduce muscle tightness.

Things you can do yourself

Resting the hand and wrist - the more you rest your hand and wrist the greater the chance of relieving the symptoms.

Cold compress - some patients find that placing an ice pack helps during "flare ups". Make sure you do not apply ice directly onto skin.

Control the triggers - if your CTS is caused by repetitive hand movements, make sure you have plenty of break periods so your hand and wrist have time to rest and recover. An occupational therapist might be able to teach you how to carry out those tasks differently.

Wrist splints - these keep the wrist in the same position. They are usually worn during sleep and prevent the wrist from bending.

Most patients with mild symptoms will notice an improvement in their symptoms within four weeks.

Some people wear a wrist splint during the day. However, there is a risk you may find they interfere with your daily activities.

Wrist splints can be bought OTC (over-the-counter) at pharmacies. They can also be ordered online. Ask a pharmacist or your doctor about them.

PhysioMax Wellness in Burlington Ontario provides various tips and treatments for every client's needs. Healthcare providers from this clinic are very knowledgeable about the treatments needed by patients in order to help them recover from their injuries. This multidisciplinary clinic in Burlington Ontario provides Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Massage Therapy in order to tend to any kind of injuries and prevent issues from occurring in the first place. Please contact us or visit www.physiomaxwellness.ca for more detailed information.