Learn More About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is often always misunderstood by many. Information and awareness drive would help people recognize CTS. Here are the common causes, risks associated with CTS and the different treatments available.

Causes
Like any other ailment, the cause of CTS can be attributed to many factors :
1. A congenital predisposition - the carpal tunnel is simply smaller for some individuals.
2. Wrist trauma or injury - sprain or fracture, over-activity of the pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, and, rheumatoid arthritis
3. Mechanical problems in the wrist joint
4. Work stress
5. Repeated use of vibrating hand tools
6. Fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause
7. Development of a cyst or tumor in the canal

Risks
Here are some interesting facts about CTS : It is three times more likely to happen to women as men maybe because women’s carpal tunnel is smaller than men; It is usually experienced by adults. Now that we know these facts, what are the risks involved?
Persons with diabetes or other metabolic disorders are at high risk.
People who are in the assembly line work (manufacturing, sewing, finishing, cleaning, and meat, poultry, or fish packing) are more likely to develop CTS. A research even showed that it is 3x more common among assemblers than data encoders.

Treatment
Do not procrastinate. When you feel the symptoms already, it is always best to consult a doctor. Have your treatment done as early as possible. Let us look how CTS is treated in different ways at different levels. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) results in more than two million visits to physicians' offices each year.
First level
1. Affected hand and wrist should be rested for at least 2 weeks
2. Avoid activities that may worsen symptoms
3. Use a splint for your arm to immobilizing the wrist and avoid it from twisting and bending.
4. Apply cool packs to reduce swelling if it is inflamed
Second level
1. Intake of drugs to ease the pain and swelling caused by CTS
2. Do some stretching and strengthening exercises to abate the symptoms. Seek the help of physical or occupational therapists.
3. Take some Yoga lessons which have been proven to reduce pain and improve grip strength of CTS patients. Some will suggest acupuncture and chiropractic care but there is still no proven study on its effectiveness.
Third level
1. Surgery – Some statistics indicates that there is an approximately 260,000 carpal tunnel surgeries performed each year in the U.S. alone. There are two kind of CT release surgery :
Open release surgery - a traditional procedure done to an outpatient. This procedure is used to correct carpal tunnel syndrome which is performed under local anesthesia.
Endoscopic surgery – this procedure allows faster functional recovery. It also brings less postoperative discomfort than traditional open release surgery.
Prevention is always better. But is there a way to prevent it? Read on and find out how you can prevent CTS:
- perform stretching exercises
- take frequent rest breaks
- wear splints to keep wrists straight
- use correct posture and wrist position

Defining Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

My friends and I would normally joke about carpal tunnel syndrome. When someone would feel a little numbness or pain in the hands or wrist after so much computer works, we would tell them that it is carpal tunnel. We often say it without actually knowing what carpal tunnel syndrome really is.

Fact is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is not a byproduct of the computer age as others would think of it. Did you know that CTS is recognized for as long as the mid-1800s? We did some research and found out more about CTS. Read on find out what CTS really is and the different symptoms related to it.

Carpal tunnel syndrome defined
We cannot define CTS without being scientific. So we looked for the simplest scientific definition and have borrowed that of The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes description : “CTS happens when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (although not the little finger), as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.”
Carpus in Greek means "karpos" and when translated in English - wrist. The band of fibrous tissue that surrounds the wrist functions as a support for the joint. The tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel.

The carpal tunnel syndrome is the disease and not the carpal tunnel. To fully understand the syndrome, we must also describe the carpal tunnel. As mentioned, it is not an illness but it is mainly the narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand.
The carpal tunnel houses the median nerve and tendons. And when the median nerve is compressed it may result in pain, numbness or weakness in the hand and wrist which even spreads up in the arm.

Symptoms
What are the different symptoms of CTS? How would one know that they are experiencing CTS already? The symptoms may be categorized into three levels.

First level Symptom: CTS usually starts gradually in the palm of the hand and fingers (especially the thumb, index and middle fingers) with the following sensation:
- frequent burning
- tingling
- itching numbness
- feel useless and swollen
- often first appear in one or both hands during the night

Second level symptom: The symptoms in the first level worsens. In this level, people generally feel the following :
- tingling during the day
- decreased grip strength

Third level symptom: In chronic cases, people will most of the time feel the following :
- muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away
- unable to tell between hot and cold by touch

They say that CTS is experienced by 5% of the population. Getting to know the symptoms and knowing what CTS is will help you determine the sensation that you are feeling. Do not just take things for granted. Immediately consult your doctor.