Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand and wrist. And it is also caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. The carpal tunnel is formed by the bones, tendons and ligaments that surround the median nerve. It is travels through the wrist at the carpal tunnel.
It normally develops between the ages of 45 and 64 years, and the prevalence increases with age. It can appear in one or both wrists. It is more common in women than in men.
Signs and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Weakness in your hand and trouble holding things.
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers.
- Feel shock-like sensations that radiate to the thumb and index, middle, and ring fingers.
- Wrist pain at night that interferes with sleep.
- Both hands are affected in more than half of cases.
Carpal tunnel syndrome gets worse, you may have less grip strength because the muscles in your hand shrink. You'll also have more pain and muscle cramping. In most cases, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome begin gradually without a specific injury.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Risk Factors
You might have a higher risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome if you do activities or jobs that involve repetitive finger use. People who are at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in women than in men. This might be because they tend to have smaller carpal tunnels.
- Have a family member with small carpal tunnels.
- High force (hammering).
- Extreme wrist motions.
- Fracture or dislocate your wrist.
- Due to older age.
- Thyroid gland hormone imbalance.
- A mass (tumor) in the carpal tunnel.
- Due to diabetes.
- Alcoholism.
Preparing For Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery
If you are preparing to undergo carpal tunnel release surgery, you may be wondering what to expect in the coming weeks and in the months post-surgery. Because with the same risk factors and preparation needs as many other surgeries. And we provides you a specific instructions on how to prepare for your procedure, though these generally follow a similar sequence, regardless of your surgical approach. It is also important that you follow the instructions given to you by your doctor or nurse.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Prevention
To prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, you should:
- Keep your wrists straight.
- Give yourself a break whenever you can.
- Try to keep your hands warm.
- Use a splint or brace that helps keep your wrist in a neutral position.
- Avoid flexing and extending your wrists over and over again.
- Put your hands and wrists in the right position while you work.
- Talk to your supervisor.
- See an Occupational Therapist.
Post Operative Activities
- Keep your hand raised above heart level. This will help reduce swelling.
- Ice the surgical site for a given amount of time, a few times a day.
- After 1 week of surgery remove your bandages and stitches will take place. Physical therapy may be suggested to improve stiffness and restore range of motion.
- You may need to wear a splint or wrist brace for several weeks.
- Grip and hand strength usually come back within 2-3 months after surgery, but it can take up to a year to fully recover.