The carpal tunnel is an actual narrow tunnel that is located on the underside section of the wrist that is adjacent to the palm. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the hand and arm in a debilitative condition that is characterized by a general weakness in the hand along with pain, tingling and numbness in the wrist arm and hand in most cases. This condition is thought to be caused by repetitive use in certain patterns of hand utilization, in some cases, the wrist’s anatomy, and additional pre-existing health conditions that serve to compress a key nerve located in the forearm, wrist, hand and fingers.
The carpal tunnel serves as a protective channel for a main nerve that travels through this tunnel and into the part of the hand that is responsible for the articulation of the fingers. When this tunnel is impacted to the point that this nerve is adversely affected, the symptoms of pain, numbness and tingling occur. These symptoms will culminate in a hand that is so debilitated because of weakness that normal function is impaired to the point of no function in some severe or untreated cases. However, if the symptoms are diagnosed and treated, people suffering from this debilitating condition can be restored to a functional capacity, and the pain, numbness and tingling abated.
The syndrome that is named for the tunnel in which the affected nerve exists often begins with a slight tingling feeling in the thumb, but the index and middle finger may also exhibit this feeling. However, in the beginning stages of carpal tunnel syndrome, this tingling is known to occur only periodically. As the syndrome develops, some patients may start to attempt to find relief by shaking the tingling from the affect parts. This tingling may then progress to a consistent feeling of numbness, and this discomfort may also manifest itself in the entire hand and wrist areas at this point.
Tingling and numbness often occur together although all patients may experience similar pattern of this negative affect, it is slightly different for each patient. However, this feeling is known to be triggered by activities like holding a phone or gripping a steering wheel, and people additionally are commonly awakened during the night by one or more of these types of symptoms. The tingling and numbness is also reported to travel pulsing along the arm also. Weakness is also a significant indicator of advanced carpal tunnel syndrome.
This weakness may progress into the patient constantly dropping common objects, and this problem is thought to be triggered by the pinching motion exacerbating the compression of the median nerve. This compression of the median nerve by definition is carpal tunnel syndrome. This median nerve extends through the carpal tunnel passageway beginning in the forearm, extending through the wrist, into the hands, and into the fingers. The median nerve is responsible for the sense of touch in the palm extending throughout all of the fingers except the pinky. It also provides motor function through nerves that allow a person to move the muscles that correspond with the base of their thumbs.
Commonly even when only the tunnel is impacted and not the median nerve itself, it can cause any form of carpal tunnel syndrome. Often things like wrist fractures that impact this area can cause carpal tunnel due to the swelling and inflammation. The inflammation and swelling associated with some forms of arthritis can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome among myriad other accidents. However, a clear diagnosis of the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is often impossible because a combination of issues may cause the problem or at least increases the chances that someone may develop this malady.
Additional factors include anatomic issues like fractures and sprains that exert pressure on the median nerve. Additionally because women have smaller carpal tunnels, they have an increased risk of incurring this issue. Chronic issues also cause carpal tunnel like nerve damaging diseases such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors may decide to employ non surgical treatments in mild cases that have existed less than approximately one year.
These treatments may include wrist splinting. This entails installing a splint system that offers relief in the sleeping hours, but there are medicinal treatments like prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs that do not contain steroids like ibuprofen or Aleve. However, it is to be stated that these are treatments for symptoms, and a corticosteroid may be injected to actually relieve the pressure on the median nerve. Permanent solutions for carpal tunnel are surgical.
This procedure entails relieving the compression of the median nerve by removing or otherwise disabling the ligament responsible for the carpal tunner syndrome pain. There are two main types, endoscopic and open surgery. In endoscopic surgery, a device telescopes along the ligament and makes small incisions. This surgery is considered much less traumatic than open surgery. Open surgery involves an open incision across the palm of the hand, but modern open surgery is also not a traumatic procedure.
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