Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
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Have you ever
experienced a tingling sensation or
a feeling of numbness in your hand and
wrist? If you have felt sudden, sharp
and piercing pains originating in your
wrist and up your arm, it is highly
probable that you may be suffering from
carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Causes and Risk Factors
CTS is a
painful disorder of the wrist and the
hand and it can occur at any age. It
occurs when the median nerve, which
runs from the forearm to the hand, becomes
pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The
median nerve controls the sensations
to the palm side of the thumb and fingers
(except for the pinky finger) in addition
to the impulses to some small muscles
in the hand that enable the movement
of the fingers and thumb.
The carpal tunnel
is a narrow and rigid passageway located
on the palm side of the wrist. It is
composed of arching carpal bones (eight
bones in the wrist) and the ligament
connecting the pillars of the arch (the
transverse carpal ligament). The carpal
tunnel acts as a pathway that enables
the median nerve to reach the sensory
cells of the wrist. Any pressure that
is inflicted on this key nerve results
in the condition called Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome (CTS). The median nerve can
also be compressed by other factors
such as a thickening from irritated
tendons or some other swelling that
can narrow the tunnel.
Some of the risk
factors that may contribute to the development
of carpal tunnel syndrome are obesity,
hypothyroidism, arthritis, diabetes,
bone spur, trauma, work-related stress,
consistent use of vibrating hand tools,
fluid retention during pregnancy or
menopause, and irritation of the wrist
joint. Individuals who suffer from certain
rare diseases like amyloidosis, sarcoidosis,
multiple myeloma and leukemia also have
a higher risk of developing CTS. These
diseases deposit abnormal substances
in and around the carpal tunnel which
ultimately leads to nerve irritation.
The occupations
of individuals and the nature of their
work can contribute to the development
of CTS. Individuals who perform repetitive
tasks, such as uninterrupted typing,
writing, or pounding with a hammer,
have a greater risk of acquiring CTS.
Similarly, individuals who have hobbies
that require constant use of hand and
wrists, such as gardening, needlework,
golfing and canoeing, are also susceptible
to this disease.
Additionally,
a wrist injury that results from operating
tools, from playing games involving
the use of hands and wrists such as
badminton, tennis, or handball or from
an accident may also cause CTS.
There are also
congenital reasons, whereby an individual
is born with a small carpal tunnel that
can also cause CTS.
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