Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common nerve disorder that may affect hand strength and sensation, causing reduced function,
The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel on the wrist. When the median nerve is squeezed, it slows or blocks nerve impulses, causing numbness and possibly weakness.
Carpal tunnel syndrome may occur in people who are pregnant, overweight, or have diseases like arthritis or diabetes Repetitive hand activity may worsen symptoms
What Are the Signs/Symptoms?
Mild carpal tunnel syndrome causes periodic numbness, when severe there can be weakness.
Symptoms often appear in the morning but may happen at other times. Symptoms may worsen with hand activities like driving holding a book or grasping items.
Tasks like buttoning a shirt become difficult and people with carpal tunnel may often drop things. Patients may shake their hands to try to relieve pain, and sense swelling when none is present.
Diagnosis requires a physical exam and possibly some specialized testing. The doctor may prick the skin to test for loss of sensation bend the wrist of a 90-degree angle (Phalen test), top it with a reflex hammer to cause electric sensation (Tinel sign) or do nerve conduction testing. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may show median nerve swelling, tunnel wall abnormalities, or show why the nerve is compressed
Living with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome numbness and tingling may be mild at first, so people may not seek medical help or treatment.
For mild disease, you can try wearing splints, available at counter pain relief medications. drugstores.
If these do not help and the condition remains untreated, it may progress and cause muscle weakness and loss of function.
This is why it is important to see your doctor if the splints and over-the-counter remedies do not work.