Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome or CTS is a condition that affects the hands and fingers. This condition can cause sufferers to experience a tingling sensation, numbness, or pain.
These symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse at night. The most commonly affected areas are the thumb, middle finger, and index finger.
The carpal tunnel is a pathway in the wrist that contains the median nerve and nine tendons, which play an important role in the movement of the fingers. When there is swelling in the nerve, tendons, or even both, the median nerve will be compressed, then Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs.
If the median nerve is pinched or compressed, it will cause a tingling sensation, numbness, and sometimes pain in the parts affected by this nerve.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms
In addition to the sensation of tingling, numbness or tingling, and pain in several parts of the hand, other symptoms of CTS ( Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ) are a weak thumb and pain in the hand or arm.
Symptoms can occur in one or both hands at once. However, in most cases, CTS eventually affects both hands.
Apart from those mentioned above, other symptoms of CTS are:
- Pain appears in the arm.
- The body becomes less sensitive to touch.
- Swelling, dry skin, or discoloration of the skin of the hands.
- The ability of fingers or hands affected by CTS will be reduced, such as when buttoning clothes, typing, or lifting something with the fingers.
- Hands or fingers affected by CTS will feel difficult to move, for example to type, button clothes, or lift something with your fingers.
Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CTS ( Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ) can occur because the median nerve is compressed or pinched, but the cause of this nerve compression is not yet known for certain.
However, there are several factors that can increase a person’s risk of experiencing CTS, namely:
- Hereditary factors in families suffering from CTS.
- Wrist injury.
- Pregnancy, almost half of pregnant women experience CTS.
- Heavy, repetitive work involving the hands, such as continuous typing.
- Other medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in women.
- Conditions such as diabetes increase the risk of median nerve damage.
- Inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, can affect the tendons of the wrist.
- Changes in body fluid balance.
- Certain conditions, such as menopause, obesity, thyroid disease, and kidney failure, may increase the risk of CTS.
- Workplace factors, such as working with vibrating tools or factory work.
Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diagnosis of CTS can be done by performing a physical examination of the hands and wrists.
In addition, the doctor or medical team will also ask several questions related to the symptoms experienced, as well as apply gentle pressure to the median nerve area in the wrist.
Then, the doctor may ask you to lift your wrist above your head, with your wrist flexed inward. People with CTS will usually feel numbness, tingling, or pain when the doctor performs this examination.
However, for more accurate CTS examination results, the doctor will recommend other examinations such as:
- Blood test.
- Electromyography or nerve conduction studies.
- Ultrasonography imaging.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
In some cases, CTS ( Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ) symptoms do not require special treatment and can recover on their own. Especially for pregnant women, CTS can improve after three months after giving birth.
For mild to moderate symptoms of CTS ( Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ), it can be treated by bandaging the wrist using a small board accompanied by corticosteroid injections.
If this does not work, the doctor can perform a surgical procedure. Surgery is necessary when permanent nerve damage is suspected.
Post-operative recovery from CTS may take a long time, especially if the CTS case is quite severe. In fact, there is a possibility that there will be no progress from the treatment that has been done.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Complications
If not treated properly, CTS can cause the following complications:
- If the median nerve is compressed for too long, it can suffer permanent damage, resulting in irreversible numbness or weakness in the hand.
- The muscles controlled by the median nerve can weaken, making it difficult to perform fine movements such as grasping or holding objects.
- Severe CTS can cause loss of the ability to feel temperature or touch in the hands, increasing the risk of unnoticed injury.
- If CTS is left to persist, the muscles at the base of the thumb can shrink (atrophy) due to not getting enough nerve signals, which can affect the ability to grip firmly.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Prevention
There are several ways to prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, including:
- Stretch your hands and fingers. You can do this by clenching your fists, then opening them and pointing them straight. This can be repeated 5-10 times, every time you take a break from your daily activities.
- Maintain proper posture. Poor posture can cause the body to become more hunched, shortening the neck and shoulder muscles. Unknowingly, this condition can also trigger stress on the nerves of the neck, as well as worsen problems with the wrist.
- Give your wrists a rest. Give your wrists time to rest, especially if you are used to typing for long periods of time or doing heavy activities that involve your hands.
- Maintaining sleeping position. Make sure your wrists are straight when sleeping, and do not use your arms to support your head when sleeping.
- Warm up before working. If you are used to doing activities that involve your hands, then don’t forget to warm up or stretch . Warming up can help maintain muscle flexibility, including in the wrists and arms.
- Avoid prolonged wrist bending. Wrist bending can increase the risk of median nerve compression. For that reason, start to reduce the intensity of hand bending.
When to See a Doctor?
You are advised to see a doctor immediately, especially if CTS symptoms interfere with your daily activities. In addition, if you have one of several risk factors for CTS, try to consult a doctor, to find out the potential of the disease.
