| Doctors and scientists associate the symptoms | | | | shock. Sometimes the syndrome results in an |
| of carpal tunnel disorder with more generalized | | | | aching hand. If this occurs, taking an |
| posture problems resulting from a sedentary | | | | anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin may |
| lifestyle and jobs that involve sitting at a desk all | | | | help to alleviate the pain. |
| day. The carpal tunnel is the space located | | | | As carpal tunnel syndrome develops, its |
| between your hand's carpal bones, which are | | | | symptoms grow in severity and intensity. The |
| found near the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a | | | | strength of your grip will decrease, which makes |
| joint condition in which the carpal tunnel shrinks as | | | | picking up small objects and forming tight fists |
| a result of inflammation or other causes. This | | | | nearly impossible. If the syndrome is not treated, |
| results in the tendons and nerves in the area to | | | | the muscles at the base of the thumb may |
| become constricted, inflamed, and ultimately | | | | atrophy from lack of use. The syndrome can |
| damaged. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a debilitating | | | | damage nerves so badly that the patient can no |
| disorder that can be either mild or severe, and if | | | | longer determine hot and cold. Instead, both |
| it goes untreated, it can lead to the eventual | | | | temperatures feel identical. Worst of all, however, |
| inability to use your hands. | | | | is the loss of the fingers' dexterity, which makes |
| The symptoms of carpal tunnel mostly manifest | | | | performing fine manual tasks impossible. |
| in the hands of people who perform what are | | | | The traditional methods of treating carpal tunnel |
| called repetitive motion tasks. These involve | | | | syndrome include pain medications, |
| typing, using a cash register, factory work, | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs, and vitamin B complex in |
| sewing, and even playing musical instruments. | | | | large amounts. The damaged tendons and nerves |
| These people are the ones who depend heavily | | | | must be treated, so the doctor may place the |
| on their hands on a regular basis, so the | | | | hand in a splint or brace to immobilize it. This |
| symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be | | | | brace may be worn during the day, during the |
| disheartening, particularly when they progress | | | | night, or twenty-four hours a day. If none of |
| swiftly. | | | | these methods help, and sometimes this is the |
| It is most common to see a gradual onset of the | | | | case, then the doctor may suggest surgery. |
| symptoms of carpal tunnel, which include burning, | | | | However, such surgery on the scar tissue and |
| tingling, or an itchy sort of numbness in the | | | | underlying problems only addresses the |
| fingers, the palm of the hand, and often in the | | | | symptoms for the "pins and needles" hand. The |
| wrist. Most people with the syndrome experience | | | | patient's first reaction might be to shake the hand |
| the symptoms in the thumb and index and middle | | | | and wrist until the feeling vanishes, but it does not |
| fingers of the affected hand. In addition, | | | | fade. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms might |
| symptoms may manifest in either or both hands, | | | | dissipate after surgery for a brief period, but the |
| while the symptoms between the hands differ. | | | | problem will always come back. |
| On occasion, the fingers feel stiff and swollen, | | | | However, recent research have linked the |
| although there is no apparent swelling. Most | | | | symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome with the |
| patients experience the onset of symptoms upon | | | | more general problems caused by posture of |
| waking in the morning, and these become more | | | | those who live a sedentary lifestyle and work |
| and more acute as the day passes. | | | | jobs that don't involve much movement. Doctors |
| When you wake with carpal tunnel syndrome, you | | | | trying to treat the syndrome approached physical |
| may easily confuse the symptoms as being those | | | | therapists, who then developed a variety of |
| of a hand that has "fallen asleep." Thus, your first | | | | exercises that address not one's hands but one's |
| impulse might be to shake your hand and wrist | | | | general posture habits. These are based on the |
| until the symptoms recede, but they will not. As | | | | theory that the interconnected joint and muscular |
| the day wears on, they may begin to fade, but | | | | systems can cause problems that manifest far |
| you might also feel a strong tingling like an electric | | | | away from the core. Results have been promising. |