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Carpal tunnel syndrome received its name from syndrome in the carpal
canal, the part of the wrist that contains the eight carpal bones.
The carpal canal is a tunnel-like structure which houses the median
nerve and nine tendons. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or "CTS," (the most
common repetitive stress injury) is the name given for a condition
where the median nerve is compressed by inflammation of the flexor
tendons that travel through the carpal canal.
 Physical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome occur when swelling in
the tunnel causes compression on the median nerve. This nerve
entrapment at several creates pain in the hand and wrist. It can
also create pain in the neck, shoulder, and upper back. Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) can occur as a result of a failed surgery to
correct carpal tunnel syndrome.
Repetitive movements can cause inflammation of tendons that pass
through a narrow tunnel called the carpal tunnel within the wrist;
these tendons enable the hand to open and close. The median nerve,
which carries impulses from the brain to the fingers, also passes
through the carpal tunnel. Inflamed tissue within the carpal tunnel
can compress or squeeze the median nerve, thereby causing
significant pain and/or swelling, and a potentially debilitating
injury.
At the outset of CTS an inflicted person feels pain, tenderness,
swelling, tingling and burning in the fingers and hands, and a
shooting pain in the shoulders. As CTS progresses, these sensations
can become so acute and persistent that the worker can no longer
perform the simplest tasks, such as grasping objects. The longer the
swelling compressing or pinches the median nerve the greater the
likelihood that some of the nerve cells are going to die. When cells
die they do not regenerate. Ultimately, when enough cells die, the
hand muscles begin to deteriorate and the hand loses its grip and
can become partially crippled. Accordingly, if the symptoms of CTS
are ignored permanent damage can occur and many CTS sufferers are
disabled.
WHAT ARE THE
SYMPTOMS?
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Numbness in the fingers or palm usually accompanied by tingling
and/or numbness in one or both hands,
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Pain that wakes you In the middle of the night.
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Weakness in your grip.
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Other symptoms can include inability to hold on to objects, manual
clumsiness, and loss of sensory/motor functions.
WHAT ARE THE
CAUSES?
Besides injury to the wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is largely
the result of micro traumas to the wrist such as repetitive
movements.
The risk of carpal tunnel syndrome can be reduced by modification of
tools, postures and movements. Remember to keep the wrists as
level as possible when performing tasks that require repetitive
movements. If flexing the wrist is inherent in the job, take
periodic breaks to rest the wrist. Avoid excessive reaching,
prolonged arm elevation, and positions where the neck is bent
forward for long periods of time. Talk to your employer about the
possibility of job rotation. Any relief you can provide to the
injured wrist will benefit the healing process.
HOW CAN IT BE
TREATED?
Non-surgical treatments for CTS include immobilization, cold and hot
therapy, aspirin, cortisone, infrared heat, steroids, ultrasound,
electrical stimulations, paraffin baths, various types of physical
therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs. In the most severe cases
surgery is performed to divide the wrist ligament and enlarge the
carpal tunnel. In 1999, data from the National Center for Health
Statistics indicates that 2.4 million visits were made to physicians
in office-based practice because of CTS, of which 1 million were
made to orthopedic surgeons. In 1999 approximately 366,000 CTS
surgeries were performed, according to the American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons, a 300% increase from 1991; however, both
surgical and non-surgical treatments generally have been
unsuccessful in enabling CTS sufferers to return to work, until the
ML830™ Laser System.
SUMMING UP
Early detection of the problem is the best solution for the
treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Although it is a common and
well-described phenomenon, diagnosing CTS is not always easy. Since
it is important to accurately diagnose, we suggest you consult your
doctor. Tell them you are interested in an alternative to surgery.
Tell them you are interested in the ML830™ Laser System from
www.laserhealing.com
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