Don't Let That Twinge In Your Wrists Become A Disabling Injury

Carpal tunnel syndrome starts out as a subtle ache or twinge in the wrists. For some people, it turns into a disability where they can barely use their hands anymore. Here is what you need to know about this crippling injury and how to keep it from impacting your life.

Understanding the Anatomy of Your Wrist

The median nerve runs down through your arm from the elbow, through the wrist and into the palm of your hand. Along the way, the nerve travels through a narrow channel created by the bones and tendons in your wrist. The is called the carpal tunnel, and it is there to protect the nerve as it passes over the wrist bones. This area is where the painful symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome originate.

It Starts with Pain and Swelling

If the nerve in the carpal tunnel becomes irritated, the tissue surrounding it swells. This puts pressure on the nerve in the narrow opening, which causes pain and numbness. There are a number of reasons that the nerve becomes irritated:

• Working with the wrists resting on a hard surface puts pressure on the wrists. This is a common hazard with people who do a lot of work on a computer keyboard.
• Repetitive motions that put stress on the wrists. Certain factory work where your hands are doing the same thing over and over is a common cause of this.
• Degeneration of the carpal tunnel. A bone disease, such as osteoporosis, can cause the carpal tunnel to constrict or become rough inside.

If the irritation is allowed to continue, you can develop numbness in your hand. You'll have difficulty moving your hand and fingers. You may even lose the ability to grip and hold onto something with your hands.

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Before It Becomes Serious

A visit to a neurologist in the early stages of this condition will prevent it from becoming disabling. The hand specialists will evaluate the extent of the nerve irritation and first make non-invasive treatment recommendations. If these don't give you enough relief, surgery is the next option.

Non-invasive treatments include:

• Medication - Anti-inflammatory and pain medications, such as ibuprofen, reduce the swelling of the tissue surrounding the nerve, giving it more room to move.
• Physical therapy - Strengthening the muscles in the wrists gives you better support in that area and protects the nerve from pressure and stress.
• Occupational therapy - If your work contributes to the carpal tunnel pain, an occupational therapist, like those at Bayonet Point Health & Rehabilitation Center, will show you ways to prevent damage to the nerve while you work. This may include changing your work space so it is more ergonomic and puts less pressure on your wrists. The therapist will also suggest how often to take breaks and do exercises to increase the circulation and decrease swelling in your wrists.
• Wrist splints - These devices hold the wrists at an angle that gives the nerve some relief from irritation.

Surgical options include:

• Enlargement of the carpal tunnel to allow the nerve to move freely again.
• Reconstruction of the carpal tunnel to remove the rough surfaces that irritate the nerve.

The sooner you get treatment for your wrist pain, the less likely the condition will advance to cause you serious problems.

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