Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel

Doctors and scientists associate the symptoms of carpal tunnel disorder with more generalized posture problems resulting from a sedentary lifestyle and jobs that involve sitting at a desk all day. The carpal tunnel is the space located between your hand's carpal bones, which are found near the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a joint condition in which the carpal tunnel shrinks as a result of inflammation or other causes. This results in the tendons and nerves in the area to become constricted, inflamed, and ultimately damaged. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a debilitating disorder that can be either mild or severe, and if it goes untreated, it can lead to the eventual inability to use your hands.

The symptoms of carpal tunnel mostly manifest in the hands of people who perform what are called repetitive motion tasks. These involve typing, using a cash register, factory work, sewing, and even playing musical instruments. These people are the ones who depend heavily on their hands on a regular basis, so the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be disheartening, particularly when they progress swiftly.

It is most common to see a gradual onset of the symptoms of carpal tunnel, which include burning, tingling, or an itchy sort of numbness in the fingers, the palm of the hand, and often in the wrist. Most people with the syndrome experience the symptoms in the thumb and index and middle fingers of the affected hand. In addition, symptoms may manifest in either or both hands, while the symptoms between the hands differ. On occasion, the fingers feel stiff and swollen, although there is no apparent swelling. Most patients experience the onset of symptoms upon waking in the morning, and these become more and more acute as the day passes.

When you wake with carpal tunnel syndrome, you may easily confuse the symptoms as being those of a hand that has "fallen asleep." Thus, your first impulse might be to shake your hand and wrist until the symptoms recede, but they will not. As the day wears on, they may begin to fade, but you might also feel a strong tingling like an electric shock. Sometimes the syndrome results in an aching hand. If this occurs, taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin may help to alleviate the pain.

As carpal tunnel syndrome develops, its symptoms grow in severity and intensity. The strength of your grip will decrease, which makes picking up small objects and forming tight fists nearly impossible. If the syndrome is not treated, the muscles at the base of the thumb may atrophy from lack of use. The syndrome can damage nerves so badly that the patient can no longer determine hot and cold. Instead, both temperatures feel identical. Worst of all, however, is the loss of the fingers' dexterity, which makes performing fine manual tasks impossible.

The traditional methods of treating carpal tunnel syndrome include pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and vitamin B complex in large amounts. The damaged tendons and nerves must be treated, so the doctor may place the hand in a splint or brace to immobilize it. This brace may be worn during the day, during the night, or twenty-four hours a day. If none of these methods help, and sometimes this is the case, then the doctor may suggest surgery. However, such surgery on the scar tissue and underlying problems only addresses the symptoms for the "pins and needles" hand. The patient's first reaction might be to shake the hand and wrist until the feeling vanishes, but it does not fade. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms might dissipate after surgery for a brief period, but the problem will always come back.

However, recent research have linked the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome with the more general problems caused by posture of those who live a sedentary lifestyle and work jobs that don't involve much movement. Doctors trying to treat the syndrome approached physical therapists, who then developed a variety of exercises that address not one's hands but one's general posture habits. These are based on the theory that the interconnected joint and muscular systems can cause problems that manifest far away from the core. Results have been promising.

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