What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a type of arthritis that causes pain, tingling and weakness in your fingers and thumbs.
The carpal tunnel is the passageway in the hand made up of the median
nerve (which runs from the elbow, through the forearm and wrist into the hand), tendons and the carpal bones.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect
one or both hands and can affect people of all ages, however, it
is more common in women.
What causes carpal tunnel
syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median
nerve (at the point where it enters the wrist) is put under pressure
(squeezed) by irritated, swollen tendons. It is this pressure that
causes numbness and pain in the middle fingers. For many people
the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is never known. However, it
may be caused by injury, such as wrist fractures or from work activities
that require repetitive wrist or finger movements, such as typing,
sewing or construction work. You may also be at risk of carpal tunnel
syndrome if:
What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
The first symptoms are numbness, tingling
(pins and needles) and a burning sensation in the hand. The symptoms
are usually worse at night and can often awake the sufferer. As
carpal syndrome progresses symptoms can be felt during the day and
the pain may travel up your arm to the elbow or shoulder. If carpal
tunnel syndrome progresses the affected hand may become weak, especially
the muscles of the thumb, index and middle fingers, as a result you
may find it hard to pick up and hold objects.
How is carpal tunnel syndrome
diagnosed?
Your doctor will suspect carpal tunnel
syndrome from your pattern of symptoms and medical history. To confirm
the diagnosis a special electrical test, called a nerve conduction
study may be carried out. In this painless test, small electrical
currents are passed into the median nerve above the wrist, if the
nerve is trapped, then the speed of the electrical impulse is slowed
down.
To eliminate other forms of arthritis
you may also have a blood test or an x-ray.
How is carpal tunnel syndrome
treated?
The treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
depends on the severity of your symptoms. If symptoms are mild, you
may only need painkillers, though your doctor will keep an eye on
you to make sure your symptoms don't progress.
If it is your job
or hobby that has caused carpal tunnel syndrome to develop, you will need
to rest between periods of performing the task and try to change
how you do the certain task.
There are prescription
drugs available for carpal tunnel syndrome to relieve pain and reduce
inflammation. The main drugs used
are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (N.S.A.I.D.s). You may also require
a splint for a period of time to prevent movement and pressure on
the nerve. These can be of great value if worn during the night.
In severe cases, carpal tunnel syndrome
might not respond to treatment, so you may require surgery. During
surgery the doctor will open up the carpal tunnel and cut the ligament
at the bottom of the wrist, this relieves pressure on the nerve. The
patient is usually allowed home the same day, although the wrist
will need to be rested for at least a week.
Related topics
Arthritis
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