What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a very painful disorder. Many people experience tingling sensations, numbness and difficulty grasping objects when they suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, symptoms may be so bad in some people that pain treatment at a pain treatment center is sought out in order to manage this problem. As its name states, carpal tunnel syndrome takes place in the actual carpal tunnel of the body.

The carpal tunnel is a type of tube located in a person’s wrist. A meridian nerve (which travels from the forearm to the hand) moves through this carpal tunnel, as do nine tendons. The meridian nerve controls feeling and certain muscles in the palm of the hand as well as in four fingers; the little finger is not included. In carpal tunnel syndrome, this tunnel tightens, causing dangerous pressure to the meridian nerve. This pressure often causes swelling to the synovium (a membrane which surrounds tendons), thus resulting in the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. For those suffering from pain similar to that of carpal tunnel syndrome, pain recovery offered at a pain treatment clinic is often very helpful.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is 3 times more likely to take place in women than in men and typically occurs in adults. The average ages for someone to experience carpal tunnel syndrome is between 45 and 55. Symptoms caused by carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Weakness when lifting or gripping items
• Tingling sensations
• Feeling as if your hands were swelling
• Numbness
• Shooting pain from the wrist to the fingers and shoulder
• Burning sensations
• Pain when performing simple activities involving the wrist
• Sleep disturbances
• Unable to distinguish hot from cold
• Slight numbing effect in middle, index and thumb fingers
• Muscle wasting in the lower thumb

In most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, a person’s dominant hand in most severely affected. Pain treatment at a pain treatment center is often very helpful when avoiding symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. This type of pain treatment may also help to reduce any severe complications which often arise in long-term cases of carpal tunnel syndrome.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

There are several factors which can cause or increase one’s risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. In most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, the cause is a combination of various factors. Sometimes however, the exact cause is unknown. Specific causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Small carpal tunnel (present from birth)
• Wrist injury
• Gout
• Assembly line work (or work involving repetitive motion)
• Bone spurs
• Amyloidosis
• Gender (women are more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome)
• Diabetes
• Infection
• Tumors and cysts in the wrists
• Family history of carpal tunnel syndrome
• Acromegaly
• Pregnancy (especially when fluid retention occurs)
• Obesity
• Complications of the thyroid
• Arthritis (typically rheumatoid arthritis)
• Menopause

Jobs involving repetitive motion of the wrist put one at a much greater risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. As mentioned, assembly line work is probably the most common job associated with this. Also, although many people associate constant computer usage (such as typing) with carpal tunnel syndrome, this job does not actually significantly increase the risk of carpal tunnel. Stress may be another possible cause or risk factor associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, although this is debatable.

If you or your loved one suffers from pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, call a pain treatment center today. Pain rehab at these pain residential facilities has helped numerous people with pain disorders find recovery. Specialized pain programs such as acupuncture, yoga, and art therapy are available at some pain treatment centers and can be very helpful in the recovery process.

Popularity: 6% [?]