Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common sports-related injury, and an injury often seen in office workers who spend much of their time typing or at the computer. The carpal tunnel is a tunnel-like structure in your wrist, and the bottom and sides of this tunnel are created by the wrist bones. The top is covered by a band of connective tissue known as the transverse carpal ligament.
Beginning at the forearm and traveling down through the carpal tunnel is the median nerve. This nerve controls the feeling in your palms, thumb, long fingers, and index fingers. It also controls the muscles around the base of your thumb. The tendons bending the fingers and thumb also travel through this tunnel. These are known as the flexor tendons.
Potential Causes
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the tissues around the flexor tendons in the wrist become inflamed and put force on the median nerve. These tissues are known as the synovium. They lubricate the tendons to make it easier for your fingers to move. The swelling of these tissues narrows the space of the wrist tunnel, crowding the nerve over time.
Many things can cause this condition, such as heredity, hormonal changes, hand use, age, and medical conditions like arthritis and diabetes.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of this condition are numbness and tingling in the hands, an electric jolt in the fingers or thumb, and strange sensations that travel up the arm to the shoulder. Symptoms will begin slowly and become more severe over time. They can flare up at any time. Because most people sleep with their hands curled, symptoms that occur at night are common and wake many from their sleep.
Orthopedics for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
For most, carpal tunnel syndrome will gradually become worse without treatment. It can be modified or even halted in the early stages. If the symptoms are clearly linked to an occupation or an activity, the condition can be stopped by altering the activity or the occupation to accommodate for the condition.
There are nonsurgical orthopedics treatment options available. These include splinting or bracing, mediations, activity alterations, and steroid injections.
Splinting or bracing involves wearing a brace or a splint during sleep to keep the wrist in a neutral position. This prevents the irritation of the median nerve during the night. A splint can also be worn during activities that inflame the wrist.
Anti-inflammatory medications can also help relieve symptoms by reducing inflammation, but they should also be applied with activity changes to prevent future flare-ups.
Changing the patterns of hand use in order to avoid activities and positions that inflame the wrist can help. If your occupation requirements cause symptoms, then modify or change your occupation to slow or stop the progression of the illness.
Steroid injections are a short-term answer that should also go along with the consideration of stopping the activity that is causing the damage. They can provide pain relief, but the symptoms will often come back if preventative measures are not taken.
Orthopedics for carpal tunnel syndrome can involve nonsurgical options for patients.