Don't Ignore the Early Warning Signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you’re not familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), you may be ignoring the early warning signs of this painful and debilitating condition. CTS is a condition that results from repetitive hand activity, causing pressure on the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. Symptoms include numbness and tingling in the fingers, which may be experienced as well as pain in the hands, wrists or forearms. The sooner you identify these signs and take steps to prevent CTS before it worsens, the better off your hands will be in the long run.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a type of nerve disorder that causes pain and numbness in the fingers, hand, and arm. It's caused by pressure on a nerve in your wrist that controls sensation to these areas. This can happen if your hands are bent for long periods or if you have swelling in your wrists from pregnancy. Symptoms include tingling, burning, pain, and weakness. If you experience any of these symptoms while working on a computer (especially when using repetitive motions), it's important to see an occupational therapist before symptoms get worse.

How common is carpal tunnel?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition caused by compression of the median nerve as it travels through your wrist, which can lead to numbness, tingling and weakness in your hand.

 It's estimated that nearly one in five Americans will develop CTS during their lifetime. The most common cause of CTS is repetitive movement or pressure on the median nerve, usually from using a computer mouse or keyboard for an extended period of time each day. More than 90% of cases are related to occupation and activities at work.

Causes of carpal tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a series of factors that put pressure on the median nerve as it passes through a narrow, rigid passageway in your wrist. That pressure can be either from an injury or repetitive motions. The most common causes for carpal tunnel syndrome are: 

-Improper positioning with equipment such as keyboards and monitors 

-Risk factors such as diabetes and obesity 

-Frequent use of vibrating tools 

-Repetitive motions such as typing or knitting

There are several risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome including: occupations that require repetitive motions or use a vibrating tool; pregnancy; obesity; family history; poor posture (especially sitting at a desk for long periods); wrist injury; stress from work.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are typically pain or numbness in one or both hands, tingling in one or more fingers, difficulty gripping objects with the hand, and weakness in the forearm muscles. 

Tips to avoid getting it in the first place

If you're experiencing any numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hands, or have chronic pain or fatigue, you might be experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Luckily, there are a few steps to take to prevent carpel tunnel syndrome before it happens. First and foremost, make sure that you're taking regular breaks from typing at your computer. You should also avoid gripping any objects tightly with your fingers and try to stretch as often as possible. 

These are just a few steps that will help you avoid getting carpel tunnel syndrome in the first place! Carpal tunnel syndrome is an injury caused by pressure on the median nerve of your arm. The median nerve travels through a narrow passage called the carpal tunnel in your wrist, which can become compressed over time due to repetitive movement or pressure against this area. It's important not to ignore the early warning signs if you think you may be experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome because it can worsen without treatment. 

The good news is that many cases of carpel tunnel syndrome can be treated with non-invasive methods such as icing, massage therapy, physical therapy exercises for finger strengthening, and anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen.