Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is referred to as the crush of the median nerve as it passes into the hand. The median nerve is situated on the palm side of your hand. Swelling inside your wrist can lead to numbness, weakness, and tingling on the side of your hand near the thumb. Today we are going to talk about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and how it is bad for our hand.

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What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition which causes numbness, tingling, and other symptoms in the hand and arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome begins by a compressed nerve in the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway on the palm side of your wrist.

The anatomy of the wrist, health problems and possibly repetitive hand motions can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Right treatment usually relieves the tingling and numbness and restores wrist and hand functions.

What are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

There are a few symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Pain and burning which travels up your arm

• Wrist pain at night which interferes your sleep

• Numbness, tingling, and pain in your thumb and the first three fingers of your hand

• Weakness in the muscles of the hand

What are the Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

There are some causes of carpal tunnel syndrome:

The pain in the carpal tunnel is due to excess pressure in the wrist and on the median nerve. The most common cause of this inflammation is an underlying medical condition which causes swelling in the wrist and sometimes block the blood flow.

Some of the conditions linked with carpal tunnel syndrome are:

• Diabetes

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Fluid retention from pregnancy or menopause

• High blood pressure

• Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis

• Fractures or trauma to the wrist

Carpal tunnel syndrome can become worse if the wrist is overextended constantly. Repeated motion of your wrist contributes to swelling and compression of the median nerve.

• Positioning of your wrists while using the keyboard or mouse

• Extend exposure to vibrations from using hand tools or power tools

• Any repeated movement which overextends your wrist, like- playing the piano or typing

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What are the Risk Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

There are some risk factors of carpal tunnel syndrome:

Anatomic Factors:

Fracture or dislocation, or arthritis which deforms the small bones in the wrist, can alter the space within the carpal tunnel and put pressure on the median nerve.

Gender:

Carpal tunnel syndrome is generally common in women because the carpal tunnel area is relatively smaller in women than in men.

Nerve-Damaging Conditions:

Some long term illnesses, like- diabetes, increase the risk of nerve damage, including damage to your median nerve.

Inflammatory Conditions:

Illnesses that are identified by inflammation, like – rheumatoid arthritis, can affect the lining around the tendons in your wrist and put some pressure on your median nerve.

Obesity:

Being overweight is a serious risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Alterations in the Balance of Body Fluids:

Water retention may increase the pressure within your carpal tunnel, irritating the median nerve. This is common during pregnancy and menopause. Carpal tunnel syndrome connected with pregnancy is generally resolved on its own after pregnancy.

Other Medical Conditions:

Certain conditions, like – menopause, obesity, thyroid disorders, and kidney failure may increase the chances of carpal tunnel syndrome.

What are the Preventions of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

There are a few preventions od Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Reduce the force and relax the grip:

In case your work involves a cash register or keyboard, for instance, hit the keys softly. For continue handwriting, use a big pen with an oversized, soft grip adapter and free-flowing ink.

Take frequent breaks:

Gently stretch and bend hands and wrists periodically. Alternate tasks when possible. This is mainly important if you use equipment that vibrates or that requires you to exert a great amount of force.

Watch your form:

Try to avoid bending your wrist all the way up or down. A relaxed middle position is best. Always keep your keyboard at elbow height or slightly lower.

Improve your posture:

Inappropriate posture rolls shoulders forward, shortening your neck and shoulder muscles and compressing nerves in your neck. This can affect your wrists, fingers, and hands.

Change your computer mouse:

Make sure that your computer mouse is comfortable and doesn’t strain your wrist.

Keep your hands warm:

You’re more likely to develop hand pain and stiffness if you work in a cold environment. If you can’t control the temperature at work, put on fingerless gloves which keep your hands and wrists warm.

Conclusion:

In the above article, we have discussed carpal tunnel syndrome and its, symptoms, causes, risk factors, preventions and treatment. If you feel any of the above symptoms, immediately consult a doctor. This syndrome decreases your efficiency of work. Moreover, relieving problems like stiffness and numbness and irritation are a good sign.

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