Anatomy of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a painful affliction of the nerves in the wrist, affects millions worldwide and contributes to many cases of workers compensation. Since its "discovery" in the late 1930s, the number of cases has grown exponentially throughout the decades, which many experts believe coincides with the number of jobs that require computer keyboard skills. Usually labeled CTS in medical shorthand, understanding the nature of the injury is paramount to prevention.
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Basic Anatomy
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The syndrome, commonly referred to as carpal tunnel by the general public, is an inflamed condition of the median nerve that "tunnels" through the openings around the carpals (wrist bones) of the hands and passes underneath the surrounding dense fibrous tissue. The median nerve innervates the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring fingers; as a result of the inflammation, these digits are affected the most. The internal swelling exerts outward pressure that inhibits full use of the wrist/affected fingers, interfering with a patients daily living.
Symptoms
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Nearly all sufferers complain of pain, numbness, burning or a tingling sensation throughout their fingers (or hands, in some reported cases). Opposition, the ability to touch the thumb alternately using each finger, is greatly reduced or cannot be completed without pain, which negatively affects grip. Unless treated appropriately, chronic CTS patients have an increase in the severity of the symptoms. Those who exhibit these symptoms should consult a licensed neurologist for testing.
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Causes
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Due to the nature of the symptoms, CTS is often confused with simple repetitive stress injuries. The difference between the two can often be felt by patients at night: because of the wrist's natural position while sleeping, pain occurs and usually to a higher degree. Stress injury patients only feel the symptoms when using the affected area. Doctors are unsure of the origin of CTS, although many believe genetics and physiological makeup are the main culprits, worsened by work related stress to the carpals. Previous wrist injuries are sometimes to blame as well.
Treatment Options
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Treatments can be used alone or in conjunction with one another, depending on the severity of the condition. The popular wrist splint can be worn by sufferers at night to keep their wrists from arching, which adds undue pressure to the carpals. Steroids injected directly into the site are usually second to using non-steroidal drugs, although the effectiveness of the latter is questioned by doctors. Surgery is the last resort, as severing the tendons surrounding the median nerve alleviates pressure and pain but limits a patients finger use indefinitely.
Prevention/Solution
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Awareness is the best technique to reduce exposure to the potential of developing CTS related complications, especially if one exhibits some degree of the symptoms. While there's some debate about which method works best, many people turn to B vitamins and omega 4 fatty acids to reduce chances of inflammation. A simple method is take intermittent breaks of one to two minutes every 20 minutes to allow the wrists to relax. Paying attention to the angle of the wrist and making corrections in body mechanics to allow the forearm and wrist to be properly aligned is encouraged.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, 20th Ed.
