Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - An Overview Of The Causes And Symptoms

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a highly painful conditionsyndrome.
which is caused as a result of the inflexibility of aTasks like typing, knitting, playing musical
particular chief nerve in the wrist. This conditioninstruments like the piano or violin, or the
occurs when the central nerve, which extendscontinuous usage of vibrating tools involve
from the forearm to the hand, is highly stressedconstant wrist moments and may result in carpal
or compressed at the wrist.tunnel syndrome.
CauseInjured or damaged wrists are also vulnerable to
Carpal tunnel syndrome can happen during dailydevelop this condition easily. Rheumatoid arthritis is
activities because of the excessive pressureyet another factor that would aggravate the
applied on the wrist nerves while performing liftingproblem. The disease Acromegaly is another
or similar types of stress activities. This results insitaution where growth hormones are formed
pain, numbness, stiffness or itching in variousexcessively. Under-active thyroid gland, fluid
parts of the hand.retention which is caused by kidney failure and
This syndrome is usually associated with hardeven pregnancy can make pressure inside the
physical stress and is considered a work-relatedcarpal tunnel, causing the median nerve to be
hazard. The best way to avoid this problem is toaffected.
reduce or avoid the activities that would putIt has been found that overweight people,
excessive pressure on the hand and fingers.pregnant women, women who use contraceptive
Symptomspills and those experiencing menopause are prone
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are gradualto carpal tunnel syndrome, even though it seems
and would start with soreness, stiffness orto come without any apparent reason.
deadness in the wrist and other parts of hand.Symptoms of the disease also involve aching,
There can be severe pain right from shoulder totingling, burning, deadness, or pain in the hand and
finger tip.wrist and also in those areas that are linked to
Later when the problem is at a severe stage, onethe median nerve (index, thumb, middle finger,
may feel itching in the hand, pain and reducedpart of the ring finger). There are also chances
gripping capability. The person may even find itthat the pain could spread to the arm as well as
hard to shape the fist, grab or carry light objects,the shoulder.
and may find difficulty in carrying out physicalThese symptoms of pain would normally be
tasks involving hand operations. Unfortunately, nohigher at night times and in the early morning.
one is sure why this problem occurs. It is found inAlso after heavy labor or work that involve
certain people because of an innate predilection -strenuous wrist movements.
that is when the carpal tunnel in the body is notCarpal tunnel syndrome can affect either or both
normal and is comparatively smaller or weak.hands with varying severity. In the beginning
However, the threat of carpal tunnel syndrome isstage, the symptoms will come and go, but
very common in people who perform assemblageignoring them would result in chronic pain and
line jobs that involve heavy hand movement.would be more difficult to cure. If not treated
The bones in the human wrist are typicallyearly, the hand muscles will gradually become
arranged in an uneven manner, in the form of afeeble and may even result in permanent loss of
semi-circle. A tough ligament, known as the carpalfeeling. Simple tasks like writing would become
ligament, builds a kind of roof above these bones.difficult or even impossible.
This forms a passage called the carpal tunnel. TheSummary:
median nerve, as well as the tendons that helpCarpal tunnel syndrome has become a common
the bending of the fingers and wrist, passes alongproblem that happens because of the acute
this tunnel. The median nerve is one of twopressure on the wrist nerves that results in
nerves that gives the hand the feeling ability. Thisaching, deadness, or tingling in various parts of the
nerve also controls some of the thumb muscles.hand. This can also be a work-related hazard.
The carpal tunnel is perfectly and firmly positioned.These types of problems can be avoided by
If any swelling occurs inside or in nearby areas,stopping or reducing the activity that exerts
the tunnel crushes on the medium nerve andpressure on the hands, fingers, and wrist.
generates the symptoms of carpal tunnel