CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway of bone and ligament in your wrist. The nerve that controls sensation in your fingers and some muscles in the hand passes through this tunnel along with some of the finger tendons. Repeated motion or use of he hand or wrist may cause the tendons to become inflamed and press the nerve against the bone. Pressure on the nerve causes pain and numbness in the hand and fingers. This is known as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
The symptoms of CTS include:
· Numbness or tingling in one or both hands that involves all but the little finger.
· Wrist pain that may affect your fingers and radiate up your arm.
· Hand or wrist pain that is often greater at night and early morning.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by anything that causes swelling against the nerve; for example, a cyst on the tendon or rheumatoid arthritis. Most often CTS is caused by inflammation due to overuse of tendons from repetitive finger and hand movements in a bent-wrist position. Pregnancy, diabetes, underactive thyroid, and birth control pills increase the risk of CTS.
Prevention
· Avoid repetitive hand motions with a bent wrist. Keep wrist straight for the following:
-Writing, typing, drawing, painting
-Driving
-Using power tools, pliers, or scissors
-Playing piano or other musical instruments
-Knitting, crocheting, needlepoint
· Take frequent breaks (five minutes each hour) from repetitive hand motions. Stretch your fingers and thumb and change your grip often.
· Learn to type with a soft touch.
· Maintain good posture. Avoid rounding your shoulders or slouching.
Home
Treatment
· Don’t ignore wrist pain. If possible, stop the activity that triggered the problem. If the symptoms decrease, resume the activity gradually with a greater effort to keep the wrist straight.
· If you cannot stop the activity, try to change the way you do it so that your wrist is not stressed. Alternate tasks so that you don’t spend more than one to two hours doing activity involving your hands.
· Gently warm up your hands before starting work. Do some wrist circles and stretch your fingers and wrists. Repeat every hour. The purpose is to increase the blood flow through the tunnel and relieving the muscles and tendons involved.
· Use a wrist pad with your computer keyboard to maintain the straight alignment of your wrist, but don’t lean on it continuously.
· Use aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen to decrease pain, unless you are allergic to aspirin compounds.
· Apply ice or a cold pack to palm side of the wrist.
· A wrist splint that keeps your wrist straight may help relieve pain. Try to combine a splint with a real effort to change the activities that cause you pain. Wear the splint at night and when doing heavy lifting or activities that cause you discomfort. You can buy a splint in some pharmacies and hospital supply stores.
*Some people find that 50mg of vitamin B6 taken twice a day helps relieve wrist pain. (Talk with your doctor before taking B6)
*Reducing the salt in your diet may help reduce water retention and relieve swelling in the wrist.
*Avoid sleeping on your hands and try to keep the wrists straight.
* If the pain or numbness is severe and is not relieved by rest, changing positions, ice, or a normal dose of aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen.
* If your hand grip becomes weak.
* If minor symptoms do not improve after one month of prevention and home treatment.
* If any numbness remains after one month of home treatment. Long-term numbness can lead to permanent loss of some hand function.