Carpal tunnel syndrome

Many of you must have heard about the famous Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but have you ever given a thought about it? I am pretty sure that the answer is a No. This article is all about the why and how of carpal tunnel syndrome and also mentions ways through which you can prevent this. Read on and find out more!

What and How of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

So, what exactly is carpal tunnel syndrome? For those of you, who don't even have the faintest idea of what we are talking about, let me make this easy for you. Carpus is basically derived from the Greek word karpos (wrist). So, now you know that it is something that has to do with your wrist. We won't go into the medical detail. So, to put it in a nutshell, carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition when your wrist hurts and you feel numbness of the middle fingers, the index finger and the thumb.

Most of you must have experienced this and it happens when you exert too much pressure on your wrist. There can be a number of conditions that can cause this to happen, for example, trauma, arthritis, pregnancy, obesity, hypothyroidism and diabetes. Another most common reason is repetitive work, for example uninterrupted typing.

Till now, we have discussed the conditions that cause carpal tunnel syndrome. There are some diseases as well that can cause this to happen. Some of the diseases are sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, leukemia and multiple myeloma.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

If there are chances of you developing this condition, then there are certain symptoms that can tell you beforehand so that you can take the necessary measurements. You would feel numbness and irritation in your wrist. Sometimes, these conditions are so worse that people wake up from their sleep. If you're lucky, carpal tunnel syndrome would be temporary for you. For example, if you develop carpal tunnel syndrome because of repetitive work, then maybe a week's break would bring things back to normal. However, sometimes conditions can get worse and you would have to get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible. Worse conditions involve decreased grip strength, burning sensation, weakness and cramping of the hand. Sometimes, patients also feel sharp shooting pains in their forearms.

Treatment and Prevention:

Before you go and get yourself treated, you need to fully diagnose your condition. Is the carpal tunnel syndrome occurring because of your everyday activities or is it due to a disease? What is the severity of the syndrome and how long have you been dealing with it?

The next part is the treatment part. If the syndrome is due to a disease, then you need to take care of that disease. In this scenario, treating the disease is the only option in order to get rid of this syndrome permanently. Other treatment includes applying ice on the wrist, using a splint and resting. For example, if your job requires you to type continuously, then you should schedule your time with five minutes break after every thirty minutes of work and so. Another solution would be to take care of your chair height and computer keyboard in order to maximize your comfort. You can also ask your doctor about stretching exercises. Stretching exercises help a lot when it comes down to cramps and sore muscles.

References

https://www.medicinenet.com/carpal_tunnel_syndrome/article.htm

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm