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What You Need To Know About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a medical condition that affects the wrist and the hand. It is caused by excessive pressure on the median nerve. When you get this condition, you may feel pain, numbness or tingling sensation, and weakness in the hand and wrist.
Multiple factors lead to Carpel tunnel syndrome, including the anatomy of the wrist, various health problems, and possibly repetitive hand movement. Proper treatment often relieves the tingling and numbness and restores average wrist and hand functions.
The treatment options may include lifestyle changes, like wrist splints and behavioral modifications. Surgery is another option for this condition.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that causes numbness, pain, tingling sensation, and weakness in the hand and wrist. It occurs due to increased pressure within the wrist on the median nerve. This nerve provides sensation to the thumb, the index, the middle, and half of the ring finger. The small finger is usually not affected.
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome generally start gradually and may include the following:
- Pain in hand and wrist
- Numbness or tingling sensation
- An electric-like shock through the hand and wrist
- Reduced hand movements
- Poor sleep quality due to hand pain
- Weakness, mainly of the thumb
Many individuals "shake out" their hands to relieve their symptoms. The numb feeling may become persistent over time.
Causes
Anything that squeezes or irritates the median nerve in the carpal tunnel space may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
There are many causes of carpel tunnel syndrome, which may include
- Fractures or trauma of the wrist
- Swelling and inflammation
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Blood flow obstruction
- Inflammation
- Diabetes
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Fluid retention from pregnancy or menopause
- High blood pressure
Risk Factors
Multiple factors increase your risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome, including:
- Anatomic abnormalities
- Being a women
- Inflammatory conditions
- Certain medications
- Obesity
- Workplace factors like working with vibrating tools
- Pregnancy
- Previous injury of the wrist
Rarely, medical conditions like menopause, thyroid disorders, and kidney failure also lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
When To See A Doctor
Get help from your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve with pain medications and interferes with your normal daily activities and sleep patterns. Without proper treatment, permanent nerve and muscle damage can occur.
Treatment Options For CTS
Some of the options that can help manage carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Lifestyle Modifications
- Nonsurgical therapy
- Surgery
Your doctor may recommend surgery if the pain persists and does not respond to conservative treatment options.
Prevention
To prevent this condition, you can minimise stress on your hands and wrists by using the following methods:
- Take short, recurrent breaks
- Improve your posture
- Keep your hands warm
- Stretch your hands well before working
- Wear wrist braces
- Avoid repeating wrist movements
Final Words
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is a common condition with symptoms that can start gradually. If an individual does not receive treatment over time, it can lead to severe pain and numbness in the hand, fingers, and even the arm.
You can treat mild forms of CTS with home remedies, such as easing repetitive movements, using ice, and taking painkillers. However, severe forms of CTS may require steroid injections or even surgery.
If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, consult your doctor, as getting an early diagnosis, and proper treatment can avoid complications and help bring relief sooner.
