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| What
Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)? |
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CTS is a painful and often
times completely debilitating nerve problem that interferes
with the use of your hand. It occurs when tissues such as
the ligaments in your wrist or the bones put pressure on the
nerve which runs from your neck all the way down through the
wrist and hand to your fingers. The nerve is known as the
median nerve and is most commonly damaged as it passes
directly through the wrist.
| Background |
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CTS is one of the most
common conditions affecting the hand and wrist. Well over
6 million Americans suffer from this condition. With an exponential
increase in the number of computer users each year and with
new technological advances,this number is sure to rise very
rapidly. In fact CTS has become one of the most widespread
occupational hazards and is considered to be the #1 occupational
illness with the second most frequently seen worker's compensation
claim.
| What
causes CTS? |
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Repetitive hand movements
can cause wear and tear. The skyrocketing of computerized
technology has brought with it a large increase in CTS cases
in addition to keyboard related occupations. There is a wide
variety of jobs that require repetitive hand movements causing
CTS. Some of these include cooks, cashiers, assembly line
workers, industrial textile employees, construction workers,
chiropractors, plumbers as well as sports activities such
as tennis, golf, baseball and hundreds of other activities
and jobs that involve impact to the wrist and hand.
Trauma is
also a common factor in developing CTS.
Fluid Retention (edema)
can cause tissues in the carpal tunnel to swell and press
on the median nerve.
Other factors such as
pregnancy, obesity, muscle hypertrophy, oral contraceptives
and ganglion cysts to name a few.
| Common
signs and complaints |
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- tingling, burning, numbness and "pins
and needles" throughout the wrist and hand
- pain in the wrist, arm and hand which
often awakes one from sleep
- generalized fatigue and weakness
- loss of grip strength or loss of sensation
causing one to drop items such as a coffee mug or
milk jug
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| How
is CTS diagnosed? |
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The diagnosis of CTS is made
by your physician taking a history and performing a careful
examination. This will include a gentle tap to the wrist over
the nerve to see if it produces any numbness or tingling (Tinel's
Test).
SPECIAL TESTS: Your physician may order an x-ray or MRI to
rule out arthritis or other pathology. An EMG performed to
detect any "slowing" of the electrical impulses
from the wrist to the hand.
| Treatment
of CTS |
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Present treatment consists
of physical/occupational therapy, using a splint to immobilize
the wrist, modified hand and wrist activity, hand exercises,
moist heat soaks, paraffin (hand hot wax), medication (anti-inflamatories
and/or corticosteroid injections) and now the use of WristracTM
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