The Carpal Tunnel is a space inside our wrist, basically a tunnel which is surrounded by ligaments and bones. The target to protect median nerve that passes through arm to the forearm and then into our hand, also called as Carpal Tunnel, sometimes is influenced by a syndrome. This is called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which occurs when median nerve is affected because of abnormal pressure on it, causing problems in normal functioning of finger and hand and this even obstructs our fingers and hand to perform even simple tasks.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Symptoms
Carpal Tunnel syndrome can also develop gradually in many years and there aren’t any visible symptoms too. However the first symptoms that appear starts with tingling or burning sensation in fingers, numbness and pain in hand, inability to hold objects and weakness felt in hands. Due to the fact that Carpal Tunnel syndrome is related to median nerve, it influences supplies in median nerve and hand. These comprise of middle finger, index finger, thumb and part of ring finger. As the pinky finger isn’t controlled by median nerve, it’s not affected by Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Those who experience first symptoms of Carpal Tunnel syndrome often notice that it burns up during the night and get relief even after shaking their hands vigorously.
People who view people suffering from Carpal Tunnel syndrome might feel that the patient is normal but in reality they aren’t able to perform normal activities in day to day life. The patients feel the restriction in performing normal functions with their hands and there is a pain sensation during their hand movement.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome- Causes
Carpal Tunnel syndrome is caused due to conditions that place strain or pressure on median nerve, which disturbs the normal blood supply to the fingers. This syndrome is also caused due to certain disease like diabetes that leads to increase in sensitivity of pressure on the median nerve and also hypothyroidism, which increases the level of water that is retained in wrists and arms.
Diseases aren’t always the cause for Carpal Tunnel syndrome, but there can be some external factors responsible for causing Carpal Tunnel syndrome like wrist injuries, dislocation of carpal bones present in wrist, arm bone fracture. Sometimes pregnancy can also be a cause as swelling of wrists put in pressure on median nerve which in turn narrows the carpal tunnel.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-Treatment
A lot of people get relief from Carpal Tunnel syndrome just by making certain changes in working and lifestyle habits. Some people who are working need to move their fingers or wrist constantly get relief by relaxing their hands, fingers and rest in between their working pattern. Application of cold packs relive swelling and wrist splinting is an effective treatment and person needs to wear splint wherein they keep their hands still while sleeping, sometimes notice tingling or burning sensation and slowly the pain gets relieved.
Wrist splinting is effective in cases where in the person have symptoms of Carpal Tunnel for less than a year.