Ailments and Situations - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Causes and What to Expect

Causes:

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by cumulative trauma to the carpal tunnel, a bony, hourglass-shaped passageway located one-quarter of an inch below the surface, on the underside of the wrist. The carpal tunnel is encased in a slippery sheath called the synovium and contains a number of critical "parts" within this very small confine. Among the bone and nine tendons is a median nerve travelling from the arm to the fingers. This nerve controls a number of small muscles in the hand and provides sensation to the thumb and first three fingers.

Steady overuse or stress of this area leads to swelling and inflammation of the tendons alongside the median nerve and synovium encasing. As a result, the median nerve is literally crushed in the tunnel, causing weakness, pain, stiffness, "pins and needles", and restricted movement.

Bookkeepers, cashiers, carpenters, data entry clerks, some factory workers, musicians, phone operators, typists, writers, or any person working at a computer keyboard or performing steady, rapid, repetitive finger / wrist / hand movements can develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

Women between twenty-nine and sixty two years of age tend to develop carpal tunnel syndrome more than men, as the hormone fluctuations of menstruation, birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause can promote swelling of the synovium. In addition, women typically have smaller wrists, making slight inflammations more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome.

As many people unknowingly curl their wrists while sleeping, the resulting pressure can lead to CTS. This underlying cause and resulting lack of sleep is also one of the most bothersome symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bone spurs, inflammatory arthritis, lack of exercise, obesity (due to extra carpal tunnel pressure), pregnancy (due to water retention) and even tendinitis can all contribute to the development of CTS. Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and Raynaud's syndrome all increase risk as well.

CTS Self-Test

To help determine whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome, perform the following test:

1. Place the backs of your hands together while pointing your fingers straight down.

2. Keep your wrists at a 90º angle so that your elbows point straight out to the sides.

3. Hold this position for one minute.

If you experience symptoms, you likely have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Conventional Test

To conclusively determine whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome, your naturopath or other health practitioner can perform an electromyography (EMG) that transmits low-voltage electrical impulses through your arm. Damaged nerves or those entrapped by swollen tissue transmit at a rate of 90 to 95 metres per second, as opposed to the normal rate of 136 metres per second.

 
What to Expect:

If not treated, carpal tunnel syndrome becomes increasingly painful over time. Small motor movements become more difficult to the point of being impossible to perform.

Pain also appears more often when the hand and wrist are not in use. Continual muscle motion helps relieve pain in some cases. However, the motion is likely that which has aggravated the condition in the first place.