Do your wrists or fingers tingle? Have you experienced shooting pains in
your arms? You may have carpal tunnel syndrome. Read on.
Symptoms
Carpal tunnel syndrome can develop when pressure is exerted on the wrist’s
median nerve. The median nerve and a number of tendons connect the forearm to
the hand by way of the carpal tunnel, a space between the ligament and bones of
the wrist. Most movement and sensation of the fingers stem from the median
nerve.
Repetitive hand-and-wrist motions, from typing to practicing the piano, can
lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis,
diabetes, and lupus can also cause tendons and ligaments to swell, aggravating
the median nerve.
Treatments
If your doctor diagnoses you with carpal tunnel syndrome, he or she will
likely prescribe a home treatment before recommending surgery. Home treatment
successfully relieves many carpal tunnel patients’ symptoms in both the short
and long term.
The therapy traditionally involves a regimen of range-of-motion exercises
for the hand and fingers, accompanied by rest and ice when pain and tingling
occur. In many cases, doctors will recommend that sufferers of this condition
wear a wrist brace at night to stabilize the median nerve and release pressure
from the carpal tunnel area.
If the condition worsens despite home therapy, your doctor may prescribe an
anti-inflammatory medication or recommend a wrist ligament operation, known as
carpal tunnel release surgery.
External Links:
CTS Place - A clearinghouse for carpal tunnel syndrome information