Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Symptoms, Treatment

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CTS or Carpal tunnel syndrome is a neurological condition. It usually occurs when there is pressure or frequent pressure on your median nerve. Many people are suffering from this condition. There are many such symptoms by which it is helpful to diagnose the Carpal canal. Besides, some specific risk factors can link to this syndrome.

However, there is a treatment for CTS that can eliminate this condition. This article will provide detailed information about CTS, including its symptoms, causes, prevention, and treatment.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

CTS is a neurological condition resulting in arm numbness, weakness, or tingling. It has an impact on the lengthy median nerve of the arm. It passes through the ulnar nerve in your wrist and ultimately lands in your hand.

It develops when your median nerve is under pressure. With the exception of your little finger, all of your fingers’ movements and sensations are controlled by the median.

If you are affected by carpal tunnel, some specific symptoms will appear that help you to diagnose this syndrome. In this case, the fingers may first start to sleep and go numb at night.
The numbness of your hand depends on how you hold your hand when you sleep. You might experience tingling and numbness in your hands that radiates to your shoulder when you get up in the morning.

Your discomfort may worsen while you’re holding anything with your wrist flexed during the day. Shaking your hands will help you deal with the disease in its early stages. It might, however, eventually fail to relieve the numbness.

Common symptoms of CTS include:

1.  In your palm, thumb, or middle fingers, you may experience numbness, burning, or tingling

2. Weakness in your hands makes it difficult to hold anything.

3. Emotions similar to shock that spread to your fingertips

4. Moving tingling into your arm

5. Slow nerve impulses

extra symptoms

  •  Decrease in finger feeding
  •  Less coordination and strength, especially when it comes to using your thumb to pinch

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When the human median nerve is compressed, carpal tunnel develops. A number of significant factors may trigger carpal tunnel syndrome. It can be difficult to pinpoint the source of carpal tunnel syndrome at times. However, the possible causes of CTS include the following:

● Making frequent movements of your hands while typing

● Any repetitive movement that you frequently do.

● Certain conditions, such as obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and rheumatoid

● Women’s pregnancy period

Risk factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CTS has a number of risk factors that have been discovered. Despite not being the direct cause of the condition, they greatly contribute to median nerve injury. Carpal tunnel syndrome risk factors are as follows:

● Anatomical factors: An injury to the wrist that deforms the small bones and puts pressure on the median nerve, such as arthritis, may cause the space within the carpal tunnel to shift. Individuals who have small carpal tunnels are more likely to be affected by carpal tunnel syndrome.

● Sex: CTS is typically more common in women. This is because women’s carpal tunnel syndrome is less severe than men’s. Those with carpal tunnel syndrome may have shorter carpal tunnels than women without the condition.

● Neurological disorders: Diabetes is one of many chronic diseases that raises the risk of nerve injury, especially damage to the median nerve.

● Obesity: Obesity increases the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

● Medications: Several studies have found that certain drugs called anastrozole used in the treatment of breast cancer can cause CTS.

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What kind of treatment should be applied for carpal tunnel syndrome entirely depends on the symptoms of the disease. Several treatment processes are adopted depending on the symptoms. They include:

● Lifestyle modifications: The initial treatment prescribed for carpal tunnel syndrome is to avoid frequent movement of your hand. In case repetitive movement is the source of your discomfort, in this case, you should take more frequent pauses or avoid the painful activity frequently.

● Exercise: Exercise is another good way to get rid of this condition. You may get better results after performing specific exercises, such as stretching or strengthening. Exercises for nerve gliding can help the nerve in your carpal tunnel glide more freely.

● Immobilization: It may be a good idea to wear a splint to prevent your wrist from moving and relieve pressure on your nerves. Your doctor may also prescribe it. Wearing one at night may be effective in getting rid of tingling or numbness.

● Medication: Steroid injections or anti-inflammatory drugs may be two alternatives in the treatment of CTS to reduce inflammation.

● Surgery: Surgery is the ultimate treatment procedure for carpal tunnel syndrome if none of the above-noted remedies work or are ineffective. You may undergo a surgical procedure known as carpal tunnel release. It enlarges the tunnel, thereby releasing pressure on your nerves.

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● You must modify your habits if you want to avoid developing CTS. If you spend a lot of time writing by hand at work, utilize a big pen with a soft grip adaptor. The pen also should have free-flowing ink. In terms of computer keywords, press the keys gently while using them.

● Slowly extend your wrists and hands forward and backward as needed. Try to find a substitute job if you can.

● Never bend your wrist all the way up or all the way down. The easiest method to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome is to hold your arm in a relaxed midway position.

● Try placing your computer keyboard at or slightly below your elbow’s height.

● Incorrect posture is, to some extent, responsible for carpal tunnel syndrome. It shortens the muscles in your neck and shoulders while rotating your shoulders forward. The wrong posture can also affect your wrists, fingers, and hands and can cause neck pain. That is why it is necessary to improve your posture.

Conclusion

If you notice any symptoms of CTS, do not ignore them. Please consult your doctor and go for tests to diagnose it. Unfortunately, if you are affected by this syndrome, take the necessary treatment as per your doctor’s consultation. It would be better to prevent this syndrome by making some changes in your habits and daily activities.