04 October 2010
While commonly caused by extended periods of holding the hands in a static position and doing activities such as typing, carpal tunnel syndrome is painful and, though it limits functionality, it is repairable.
Causes of carpal tunnel are varied, but are all characterized by movements of the hands that are awkward, repetitive and/or forceful. These can be either at work or hobbies – those who knit often are at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel itself is actually part of the anatomy of the hand and wrist. The carpal tunnel is located on the underside (the side of the palm) of the wrist, and houses a main nerve to the hand and the tendons that allow the fingers to bend and flex. When there is consistent pressure placed on the carpal tunnel, pain, numbness and weakness of the hand and wrist may occur.
Carpal tunnel syndrome generally starts small, and then becomes painful and irritating to the point that ignoring the symptoms is no longer an option. Initial symptoms include numbness and tingling in the fingers and hand that is usually exacerbated by gripping something for a long period of time, such while speaking on a phone, or gripping a steering wheel. After the numbness and tingling has remained persistent for a period of time, pain is then expected to occur. The pain will generally either travel from the wrist into the palm and fingers, or up the arm and into the shoulder and usually occurs on the underside of the arm.
When these symptoms are present, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible, especially if any symptoms are causing a disruption to your daily activities or sleep. Your physician will perform tests to rule out other diagnoses and to confirm the diagnosis of carpal tunnel. Once this diagnosis has been made, your physician will then work with you to come up with the best possible treatment plan. If the carpal tunnel is mild and your life is not seriously altered by the pain, taking frequent breaks from the work or hobby that exacerbates the pain to ice the area can help with pain and swelling. Your physician may recommend an injection of a corticosteroid, a compound that will decrease inflammation and reduce pain. Other options include wearing a splint on the wrist, and prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin. If the pain has persisted for more than six months or is so severe that it interferes with your daily activities, surgery may be recommended by your physician.
Often, surgery can repair carpal tunnel syndrome and the patient generally experiences a high level of pain relief. In some cases, however, a patient may note some remaining pain or weakness. To prevent carpal tunnel from progressing to a serious level, it is advised to take frequent breaks should you notice pain, weakness or numbness in your hands.
References:
MayoClinic.com
