Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

When you have constant pain, numbness and tingling in your arm and hand, with the pain gradually getting worse, this can be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when one of them main nerves in the hand gets compressed or squeezed and causes pain and discomfort in the arm, wrist or hand and all three. This nerve can be seen as the median nerve.  This median nerve runs along with arm down the forearm, through the carpal tunnel and into the hand. The carpal tunnel can be seen as a small restricted tunnel that is about 2.5 cm wide in size and is positioned in the wrist. The median nerve runs through this tunnel on the way to the hand. This tunnel is made up of the bones of the wirst, connective tissue as well as the transverse carpal ligament, because of the composition of the carpal tunnel it does not have much leeway to stretch. This lack of stretch or ability to increase in size becomes the problem in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, because when the tunnel gets narrowed or when swelling in the tissues surrounding the median nerve as well as the flexor tendons occurs, there is no space for them to conduct their ‘business’, this is when the pain and discomfort occurs.

There are a number of causes that can factor into someone getting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

• People that have other underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis as well as some other thyroid gland imbalances are more prone to getting this.
• Repetitive hand movements as well as hand and wrist positions during sport, work or other activities, especially when the wrist is in quite a significant flexion or extension position ca cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
• Women are more prone to getting this as well as pregnant women are even more prone due to the hormone changes that the body goes through.
• Some people may actually be born with a smaller Carpal Tunnels and this can be seen as a trait that runs in families. You cannot change the size of your tunnel or the fact that you may get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome you can just treat it as it comes.

There are a number of symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome the main ones can be seen as:

• The main symptom and the one that gives the most issues is the pain, numbness and tingling in the hand, wrist and even arm. Shooting shock-like pains can also occur in the wrist and down to the fingers.
• The nerve being restricted can also cause weakness in the hand which can result in you dropping things.

Treatment

The pain, tingling and numbness may start off gradually and then disappear but it is likely to worsen over time and affect activities of daily living. Seeking a doctor’s diagnosis, advice and treatment plan is the best way to start the process. Depending on the severity of the syndrome will depend on what treatment will be best. Some of the treatments can be seen as:

• The doctor may advise you to seek an opinion from a hand orthopaedic surgeon who may, if the severity is bad enough, and the non-surgical treatments are not working suggest surgery as the last resort.
• Some non-surgical treatments can be seen as: strapping or wearing a brace, NSAIDS, adjusting hand positions and restricting changing some activities.
• Cortisone steroid injections
• Seeking exercise advice from your BIOKINETICIST to assist in adjusting and individualising an exercise program that can assist in nerve gliding of the median nerve.

Biokineticist’s have worked with and assisted many clients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and if you are a sufferer we could assist you with an exercise program to help prevent any possible surgery.