Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes, Symptoms and Solutions
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common problems affecting the hand! Caused by pressure put on the median nerve and tendons within a space in the wrist called the “carpal tunnel,” it can cause tingling, numbness and weakness in the side of the hand near the thumb. If left undiagnosed or untreated, it can evolve into a more painful condition and some loss of function.
Those at the highest risk of suffering from CTS are often people involved in jobs, sports or hobbies that require the repetitive use of the fingers, hands and wrists. Think office workers using computers keyboards, factory workers on assemblies lines, construction workers wielding jack hammers or athletes such as tennis players who use extreme wrist motions. But these are not the only people who may suffer from CTS.
Researchers have found, over the years, that heredity, old age, wrist fractures and/or dislocations, as well as some diseases can present scenarios where carpal tunnel syndrome can occur.
SYMPTOMS :
Early symptoms include numbness in the hand while sleeping, tingling or pain in the fingers, decreased feeling in the fingertips, difficulty using the hand for everyday tasks such as writing, grasping objects, holding a book or using a computer keyboard. As symptoms worsen, weakness in the hand is more prevalent, intricate tasks such as buttoning a shirt or clasping jewelry become more of a challenge and dropping objects is not uncommon.
If a diagnosis of CTS is ultimately determined, the course of treatment may vary. Non-surgical treatments include wearing a wrist brace or splint, taking anti-inflammatory drugs.Surgical treatments, generally recommended when CTS does not respond to previous methods (or has already become severe) include out-patient surgery to increase the size of the carpal tunnel to relieve pressure on the median nerve and tendons.
If you, or someone you know, is suffering from any of these symptoms, a visit to an orthopaedic specialist is in order.
For more details consult specialist
Dr Rajesh Garg
Orthopedic Surgeon in Canadian Specialist Hospital , Dubai
Call @ 971(4)7072222
