Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes pain, numbness and tingling in the hand and arm. The condition occurs when one of the major nerves to the hand — the median nerve — is squeezed or compressed as it travels through the wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome progresses over time in most individuals, hence early diagnosis and therapy are critical. Early on, modest treatments such as using a wrist splint or limiting specific activities can often reduce symptoms.
Risk factors
Those who engage in hobbies or professions that require repeated finger usage are at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.
The following movements can put persons at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome:
Extremely powerful hammering.
Wrist movements that are exaggerated.
Vibration.
Many additional variables may also play a role in the development of carpal tunnel
syndrome. These elements may include:
Inheritance (smaller carpal tunnels can run in families).
Pregnancy.
Hemodialysis treatment (a process where the blood is filtered).
Fracture and dislocation of the wrist
Deformity of the hand or wrist.
Rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Hormone imbalance.
Diabetes.
Alcoholism.
A tumor in the carpal tunnel.
Amyloid buildup (an abnormal protein).
Symptoms
Below are the most prevalent symptoms:
Deficiency in holding items with one or both hands
Numbness or pain in one or both hands
The feeling of "pins and needles" in the fingers
Fingers may feel swollen
Finger tingling or burning, mainly in the thumb, index, and middle fingers
Pain or numbing that worsens at night and disturbs sleep
Comments