Facts And Causes Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Facts

• Carpal tunnel is a narrow tunnel created in the wrist by the carpal bones (wrist bones) and wrist ligaments. It contains 9 tendons, blood vessels and the median nerve. This tunnel normally protects the median nerve. The median nerve gives you the abiity to move your hand, receives sensations in your palm, thumb and the first 3 fingers and controls the thumb muscles. The median nerve begins in the neck.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) results when the media nerve is compressed or damaged. When the space in the tunnel is reduced, pressure increases and therefore it affects the nerve function.
• When tissues in the tunnel e.g. the synovium (covering of the tendons) get inflamed, they put pressure on the median nerve.
• CTS causes stiffness, numbness and tingling of the arm and hand/fingers. Severe symptoms could also result in sleep disruption due to pain, loss of grip strength and even the use of a hand. It may also lead the pain, numbness and stiffness to other parts of the body, e.g. legs and back.
• Electromyography (EMG) and/or a nerve condution test (NCT) is conducted to help diagnose CTS. Both procedures are carried out by placing electrodes in the hand to measure the electrical discharges of the muscles (for EMG) and the function of the median nerve in transmitting electrical signals (for NCT).

Causes

• Any action that requires repeated use of hands, wrist and fingers often results in CTS. One such common action is computer keyboard typing where wrists and fingers are not just overused but placed in postitions where tensions can mount on the median nerve.
• Actions like those performed by machine operators, musicians, carpenters, writers and hairstylists are linked to CTS.
• Other common actions with links to CTS include wringing clothes, scrubbing or even fine needlework.
• The reduction of space in the tunnel could also be due to bone diseases, fractures, multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. Obesity, lack of exercise, pregnancy and the contraceptive pill are also known to bring about the occurence of CTS.
• In the case of obesity and pregnancy, when the body weight is on the high side, fluid retention in the body rises. This fluid is said to relocate down to the arms and hands, where it can increase pressure within the tunnel.
• Coffee and tea consumption can also lead to fluid retention because they are acid-forming, it becomes acid in the body making the body retain water in order to neutralize it.

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