WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Did you know that spending long hours at your computer can put
your health at serious risk? Most people does not even consider
that possibility, but t does, Working at a desk is extremely
hard on your body, and I would like to share this with you so
maybe you can avoid some of the most common health risks. One of
the most common one is: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
If you are experiencing the following symptoms, then maybe you
are suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: do you experience
tingling of your thumb? How about your index, middle, and ring
fingers? Are you always awaken by pain during the night? Does
the pain go away by moving, shaking, or massaging such hand?
Does the pain sometimes extend to the arm and the shoulder? Do
you have numbness? Are there times when you feel uncomfortable
using your hands you feel that your dexterity is lost?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the condition which affects the wrist
and the hand of the patient. It involves a space in the wrist
that is surrounded by bones and a rigid ligament. Such space is
called the carpal tunnel.
The muscles and tendons are brought into action by moving the
wrist and the finger. It is important that the tendons are
lubricated to ensure optimal functioning. If the tendons are not
lubricated, friction exists between the tendon and the tendon
sheath which leads to swelling in that area. The inflammation
damages the median nerve by causing formation of fibrous tissue
which thickens the sheath and limits tendon movement.
The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is common. Symptoms of the disorder
were noted in 614 out of 982 supermarket checkers in one survey,
and 52 in 700 employees of an electronic manufacturing plant.
117 in 788 meat handlers had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.
A survey showed that an average of 65 carpal tunnel operations
have been performed by 400 American hand surgeons each year.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is usually seen in individuals who do a
lot of repetitive hand motions, strong and tight gripping,
vibration, and whose job entails that they undergo mechanical
stress on their palm. Awkward hand positions will also
predispose one to develop the disorder.
Those occupations that are at risk for developing carpal tunnel
syndrome are as follows: cashiers, typists, knitters, cloth
sewers and hairdressers. Those who work in the bakery who always
do repetitive flexing-extending wrist movement while kneading
may also develop the disorder eventually, along with those whose
job entails they use a spray paint gun for hours and other
vibrating hand tools. The disorder has been associated with
several diseases. These include arthritis, tendon sheath tumors,
hypothyroidism, gout, and Diabetes Mellitus. Wrist dislocations
and fractures are also risk factors to developing Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome. The prolonged use of oral contraceptive pills has been
associated with increased risk for CTS, as well as menopause and
pregnancy. These diseases and physiological events supposedly
increase the risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome because they cause
the swelling of the structures inside the carpal tunnel which
compresses the median nerve.
Some anatomical variations such as the size and shape of the
wrist may also increase the risk of getting CTS. Some symptoms
experienced by patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome present with
weakness of the hand, making it hard to use the hand in pinching
or grasping. Dry skin may also be experienced.
Evaluating carpal tunnel syndrome always starts with evaluating
the risk that the person's job has with CTS. The physician will
ask about the patient's employment, what goes on in a typical
day's work, and the frequency and regularity of the tasks the
patient performs at work.
The physician will perform physical examination called the
Tinel's test and Phalen's test. In performing the Tinel's test,
the doctor will tap the wrist of the patient in the median nerve
area and if the maneuver will result to tingling of the finger,
it indicates damage to the median nerve. The Phalen's test is
when the patient bends the wrist for a minute and he feels
finger tingling. These two tests will help the physician greatly
in the evaluation and diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. This
will also help the physician to evaluate if the patient needs
surgery for the carpal tunnel syndrome.
The physician may also order for electromyography to measure how
fast the median nerve transmits messages to muscles. This is a
good indication of the status of the median nerve.
If you think that you are experiencing the symptoms of carpal
tunnel syndrome, it is best to seek consult from a qualified
physician to evaluate the disorder.
There are other risks as you sit in front of that computer but
it would be to much to write about in this article, so if you
would like to learn more about other risks such as:
Eye strain RSI (Repetitive Stress Syndrome) Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome Constant Head Aches Dizziness Breathing Problems
Difficulty Concentrating
You can learn all about this in the book: "The Painless PC",
which can be found at:
www.HealthCrow.com