carpel tunnel syndrome, carple tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrom
What is Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when tendons or ligaments
in the wrist become enlarged, often from inflammation, after being
aggravated. The narrowed tunnel of bones and ligaments in the wrist
pinches the nerves that reach the fingers and the muscles at the base of
the thumb. The first symptoms usually appear at night.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms
Symptoms range from
a burning, tingling numbness in the fingers, especially the thumb and the
index and middle fingers, to difficulty gripping or making a fist, to
dropping things. Some cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are due to
work-related cumulative trauma of the wrist. Diseases or conditions that
predispose to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome include pregnancy,
diabetes, and obesity.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
Carpal tunnel syndrome is treated by immobilizing the
wrist in a splint to minimize or prevent pressure on the nerves. If that
fails, patients are sometimes given anti-inflammatory drugs or injections
of cortisone in the wrist to reduce the swelling. There is also a surgical
procedure in which doctors can open the wrist and cut the ligament at the
bottom of the wrist to relieve the pressure. However, only a small
percentage of patients require surgery.
What is the
prognosis?
Approximately 1 percent of individuals with carpal
tunnel syndrome develop permanent injury. The majority recover completely
and can avoid reinjury by changing the way they do repetitive movements,
the frequency with which they do the movements, and the amount of time
they rest between periods when they perform the movements.
What research is being
done?
Much of the on-going research on carpal tunnel syndrome is
aimed at prevention and rehabilitation. The National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) funds research on
carpal tunnel syndrome.
Keeping on Top of Your Condition
Keeping in tune with your disease or condition not only makes treatment less intimidating but also increases its chance of success, and has been shown to lower a patients risk of complications. As well, as an informed patient, you are better able to discuss your condition and treatment options with your physician.
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Organizations
American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677-0850
ACPA@pacbell.net
http://www.theacpa.org/
Tel:
916-632-0922
Fax: 916-632-3208
Association for Repetitive Motion Syndromes (ARMS)
P.O. Box
471973
Aurora, CO 80047-1973
http://www.certifiedpst.com/arms
Tel:
303-369-0803
National Chronic Pain Outreach Association (NCPOA)
P.O. Box
274
Millboro, VA 24460
ncpoa@cfw.com
Tel: 540-862-9437
Fax: 540-862-9485
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health
Bldg. 31, Rm.
4C05
Bethesda, MD 20892-2350
NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov
http://www.nih.gov/niams
Tel:
301-496-8188 877-22-NIAMS (226-4267)
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