| If you are experiencing the following symptoms, then | | | | for hours and other vibrating hand tools.The disorder |
| maybe you are suffering from Carpal Tunnel | | | | has been associated with several diseases. These |
| Syndrome: do you experience tingling of your thumb? | | | | include arthritis, tendon sheath tumors, |
| How about your index, middle, and ring fingers? Are | | | | hypothyroidism, gout, and Diabetes Mellitus. Wrist |
| you always awaken by pain during the night? Does | | | | dislocations and fractures are also risk factors to |
| the pain go away by moving, shaking, or massaging | | | | developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The prolonged |
| such hand? Does the pain sometimes extend to the | | | | use of oral contraceptive pills has been associated |
| arm and the shoulder? Do you have numbness? Are | | | | with increased risk for CTS, as well as menopause |
| there times when you feel uncomfortable using your | | | | and pregnancy. These diseases and physiological |
| hands you feel that your dexterity is lost?Carpal | | | | events supposedly increase the risk for Carpal Tunnel |
| Tunnel Syndrome is the condition which affects the | | | | Syndrome because they cause the swelling of the |
| wrist and the hand of the patient. It involves a space | | | | structures inside the carpal tunnel which compresses |
| in the wrist that is surrounded by bones and a rigid | | | | the median nerve.Some anatomical variations such as |
| ligament. Such space is called the carpal tunnel.The | | | | the size and shape of the wrist may also increase |
| muscles and tendons are brought into action by | | | | the risk of getting CTS. Some symptoms |
| moving the wrist and the finger. It is important that | | | | experienced by patients with Carpal Tunnel |
| the tendons are lubricated to ensure optimal | | | | Syndrome present with weakness of the hand, |
| functioning. If the tendons are not lubricated, friction | | | | making it hard to use the hand in pinching or grasping. |
| exists between the tendon and the tendon sheath | | | | Dry skin may also be experienced.Evaluating carpal |
| which leads to swelling in that area. The inflammation | | | | tunnel syndrome always starts with evaluating the |
| damages the median nerve by causing formation of | | | | risk that the person's job has with CTS. The |
| fibrous tissue which thickens the sheath and limits | | | | physician will ask about the patient's employment, |
| tendon movement.The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is | | | | what goes on in a typical day's work, and the |
| common. Symptoms of the disorder were noted in | | | | frequency and regularity of the tasks the patient |
| 614 out of 982 supermarket checkers in one survey, | | | | performs at work.The physician will perform physical |
| and 52 in 700 employees of an electronic | | | | examination called the Tinel's test and Phalen's test. In |
| manufacturing plant. 117 in 788 meat handlers had | | | | performing the Tinel's test, the doctor will tap the |
| surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. A survey | | | | wrist of the patient in the median nerve area and if |
| showed that an average of 65 carpal tunnel | | | | the maneuver will result to tingling of the finger, it |
| operations have been performed by 400 American | | | | indicates damage to the median nerve. The Phalen's |
| hand surgeons each year.Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is | | | | test is when the patient bends the wrist for a minute |
| usually seen in individuals who do a lot of repetitive | | | | and he feels finger tingling. These two tests will help |
| hand motions, strong and tight gripping, vibration, and | | | | the physician greatly in the evaluation and diagnosis |
| whose job entails that they undergo mechanical | | | | of carpal tunnel syndrome. This will also help the |
| stress on their palm. Awkward hand positions will also | | | | physician to evaluate if the patient needs surgery for |
| predispose one to develop the disorder.Those | | | | the carpal tunnel syndrome.The physician may also |
| occupations that are at risk for developing carpal | | | | order for electromyography to measure how fast |
| tunnel syndrome are as follows: cashiers, typists, | | | | the median nerve transmits messages to muscles. |
| knitters, cloth sewers and hairdressers. Those who | | | | This is a good indication of the status of the median |
| work in the bakery who always do repetitive | | | | nerve.If you think that you are experiencing the |
| flexing-extending wrist movement while kneading | | | | symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, it is best to |
| may also develop the disorder eventually, along with | | | | seek consult from a qualified physician to evaluate |
| those whose job entails they use a spray paint gun | | | | the disorder. |