What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is also called median nerve compression, is a condition that causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand.
It happens because of pressure on your median nerve, which runs the length of your arm, goes through a passage in your wrist called the carpal tunnel, and ends in your hand. The median controls the movement and feeling of your thumb and the movement of all your fingers except your pinky.
The anatomy of your wrist, health problems and possibly repetitive hand motions can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.
What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel?
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Weakness when gripping objects with one or both hands
- Pain or numbness in one or both hands
- "Pins and needles" feeling in the fingers
- Swollen feeling in the fingers
- Burning or tingling in the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers
- Pain or numbness that is worse at night, interrupting sleep
Who is at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?
Women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. People with diabetes or other metabolic disorders that directly affect the body’s nerves and make them more susceptible to compression are also at high risk. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome usually occurs only in adults.
Workplace factors may contribute to existing pressure on or damage to the median nerve. The risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is not confined to people in a single industry or job, but may be more reported in those performing assembly line work—such as manufacturing, sewing, finishing, cleaning, and meatpacking—than it is among data-entry personnel.
What is the treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects millions of Americans nationwide and costs companies billions in health insurance and workers’ compensation claims each year.
A typical recovery plan involves one or more of the following:
- Splinting your hand. This helps keep your wrist from moving. It also eases the compression of the nerves inside the tunnel.
- Anti-inflammatory medication. These may be oral or injected into the carpal tunnel space. These reduce the swelling.
- This eases compression on the nerves in the carpal tunnel.
- Worksite changes. Changing position of your computer keyboard or making other ergonomic changes can help ease symptoms.
- Massage therapy
Massage therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Massage therapy for carpal tunnel is the most non-invasive, cost-efficient and effective long term treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Massage therapy addresses the inflammation, pain and numbness by softening and lengthening the muscles of the wrist and hand.
One can also take advantage of the benefits of an Electric Hand Massager, which would provide relief from Carpal Tunnel pain and would be available to use at all times, in the comfort of your home.
