Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that affects adults. If by any chance you suspect that you have its symptoms, it would be wise to immediately consult your doctor. He will submit you to a number of tests to diagnose your condition. This way, your doctor will give you a firm confirmation on whether or not you are already suffering carpal tunnel syndrome or another similar condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of nerves, blood vessels and ligaments that are located at the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is the bone that is located at the wrist, the area right at the base of the hand. Due to swelling and pressure, the blood vessels, ligaments and median nerves that pass through the carpal tunnel become constricted, which in turn affect their normal functions. This results to feeling sensations right at the thumb and at the first two fingers of one hand or both hands.
People whose median nerve is affected may feel numbness or tingling in their thumb or the first few fingers of one or both hands. This may just be mildly annoying. You may also notice numbness or tingling in the palm of your hand. Sometimes the pain can extend up your arm to the elbow.
Aside from experiencing pain and difficulties with finger coordination, pain may also be experienced on the wrist of one of both hands. This makes it difficult to pick up small items, which typically require the fingers to do intricate movements.
As carpal tunnel syndrome progresses, you may notice weakness in one or both hands. Your grip can lose strength, and you may find yourself dropping items you never had issues with before. In long term cases, you may also see a wasting away of the muscle at the base of the thumb.
When you go in for an exam, your doctor will test you for numbness in your palm and on your fingers. He will see if you have lost any strength in your grip. They will perform a range of motion test to see if it has been affected.
As you go to your doctor, two tests are typically performed to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. In the first test, the doctor will position the elbows of the patient at his shoulder level and flex the back of the hands and the wrist to form a 90-degree angle. If the patient already suffers carpal tunnel syndrome, this position should reproduce its symptoms.
The second test is called the Tinel's sign. To perform this test, the doctor will hold the patient's wrist and point the hand downward. At that position, the doctor will tap on the wrist near the palm. If the patient has carpal tunnel syndrome, he will feel tingling sensations on his fingers or thumb.
Early diagnosis means greater chances of gaining back normal carpal conditions. This explains the importance of immediately consulting your doctor upon experiencing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Aside from getting accurate diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor will guide you in laying out a treatment plan, which will help you manage and gradually improve your symptoms. Aside from medications, your doctor may advise you to do some special exercises to maintain movement and alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by the symptoms. In this light, the rate at which your condition will improve depends on how you strictly follow your doctor's treatment instructions.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of nerves, blood vessels and ligaments that are located at the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is the bone that is located at the wrist, the area right at the base of the hand. Due to swelling and pressure, the blood vessels, ligaments and median nerves that pass through the carpal tunnel become constricted, which in turn affect their normal functions. This results to feeling sensations right at the thumb and at the first two fingers of one hand or both hands.
People whose median nerve is affected may feel numbness or tingling in their thumb or the first few fingers of one or both hands. This may just be mildly annoying. You may also notice numbness or tingling in the palm of your hand. Sometimes the pain can extend up your arm to the elbow.
Aside from experiencing pain and difficulties with finger coordination, pain may also be experienced on the wrist of one of both hands. This makes it difficult to pick up small items, which typically require the fingers to do intricate movements.
As carpal tunnel syndrome progresses, you may notice weakness in one or both hands. Your grip can lose strength, and you may find yourself dropping items you never had issues with before. In long term cases, you may also see a wasting away of the muscle at the base of the thumb.
When you go in for an exam, your doctor will test you for numbness in your palm and on your fingers. He will see if you have lost any strength in your grip. They will perform a range of motion test to see if it has been affected.
As you go to your doctor, two tests are typically performed to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. In the first test, the doctor will position the elbows of the patient at his shoulder level and flex the back of the hands and the wrist to form a 90-degree angle. If the patient already suffers carpal tunnel syndrome, this position should reproduce its symptoms.
The second test is called the Tinel's sign. To perform this test, the doctor will hold the patient's wrist and point the hand downward. At that position, the doctor will tap on the wrist near the palm. If the patient has carpal tunnel syndrome, he will feel tingling sensations on his fingers or thumb.
Early diagnosis means greater chances of gaining back normal carpal conditions. This explains the importance of immediately consulting your doctor upon experiencing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Aside from getting accurate diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor will guide you in laying out a treatment plan, which will help you manage and gradually improve your symptoms. Aside from medications, your doctor may advise you to do some special exercises to maintain movement and alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by the symptoms. In this light, the rate at which your condition will improve depends on how you strictly follow your doctor's treatment instructions.
About the Author:
Anyone who has ever felt the tingling numbness in their fingers and hands knows how irritating carpal tunnel syndrome can be. For people all over the world, relief has been found in the simple exercises outlined by Tom Nicholson. Wouldn't you like to avoid invasive surgery and ease your pain through a series of simple carpal tunnel exercises? Click on that link to get a glimpse of Tom's unusual set of exercises.
