What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? - Credihealth Blog - 5 minutes read


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Anyone who works in cleaning, sewing, manufacturing, finishing, and meatpacking is also likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome condition. However, women are much more likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome than men.

Also known as “Median Nerve Compression”, this condition occurs when there is a lot of pressure on the median nerve. This is the nerve that controls the feeling in your hand in addition to the movements of your fingers, apart from the pinky (little) finger. When these parts of your hand are affected they don’t tend to go unnoticed.

Symptoms

Those who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome typically feel pain, tingling, or numbness in their fingers. The feeling might also begin to travel up the forearm. This can result in an uncomfortable sensation that is very hard to ignore.

Symptoms often start to occur during the night. This is because most people have their wrists bent while they sleep. This causes pressure on the median nerve. When they wake, it’s likely that those with this condition will want to shake their hands.

As the condition starts to worsen, symptoms might be felt during the day. This can occur when the wrist is bent, for example, when you’re driving, using your phone, or reading.

Other symptoms of this condition include:

  • Having swollen fingers
  • Feeling shocks in the fingers and thumb
  • Having pain that travels from the forearm to the shoulder
  • Difficulty making a fist
  • Weakness or numbness in the muscles causing you to drop things
  • Difficulty doing buttons up

Please note, not everyone will have the same symptoms, and some symptoms might be worse than others. If you are experiencing any or all of the above symptoms you will need to seek medical attention.

Diagnosis

When you speak to your doctor about your symptoms they will physically examine your hands, your shoulders, and your arms and neck. They might also check to see if the affected areas are discolored, warm, or swollen. Your doctor might also carry out other tests to see if you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

While some of these tests can be uncomfortable, it’s important that your doctor carries them out. This is so he or she can make a diagnosis. As soon as you have received a diagnosis you can then start having treatment for it.

Treatment

If you are diagnosed with the condition, it’s likely you’ll be advised to see a physical therapist. This is because the therapist can show you how to do exercises that could help.

You should make sure that you do the exercises as often as you have been advised. This is because the exercises could make the side effects of this condition a little better. They could also help to strengthen your hand and wrist.

You might also be asked to wear a wrist brace to ensure your wrist and hands are kept still. This is particularly important at night as a wrist brace can help to prevent further injuries. A brace can also help to alleviate pain associated with this condition. If your Carpal Tunnel is particularly bad, your doctor might recommend that you have surgery.

Learn more about treatment here: How to Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Self-care

When it comes to self-care, you might want to consider putting ice on your wrist. Please make sure that you wrap the ice in a towel before you place it on your wrist. This is important because it can help to prevent your from burning your wrist.

You might also want to consider taking painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin. Please speak to your doctor before you take any painkillers. This is especially important if you are already taking medication.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a painful condition, but with a bit of care, you could find that it’s very manageable.  If you are concerned about your symptoms you can always speak to your doctor about them. They will ensure you continue to get the treatment you need.

Many activities outside the workplace can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome: knitting, sewing, or embroidery; cook and do housework; computer games and home computer work; play sports or play cards; and hobbies or projects such as carpentry or using powerful tools for long periods of time.

You can do the same exercises at home that you do at work. You should also take frequent rest periods and examine household tools that can cause strain on your hands. You may need to wear a wrist strap at night, while playing sports, or when working at home. The wrist strap helps keep the wrist in a neutral or straight position and helps it rest.

Disclaimer: The statements, opinions, and data contained in these publications are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of Credihealth and the editor(s). 

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Source: Credihealth Blog