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