Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
INTRODUCTION
The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue which provides support to the joint. The space between this fibrous band and the wrist
bone is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel to receive sensations from the thumb, index, and middle
fingers of the hand. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is associated by symptoms and signs, which are caused by compression of the median nerve travelling
through the carpal tunnel such as tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers.
This condition affects individuals by causing pain, paresthesias, and sometimes weakness in the median nerve distribution. The person may experience pain,
numbness and tingling sensations in the arm, which may extend to the shoulder and neck area; these feelings are more prevalent at night due to various
sleeping positions. To aid in the prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, stretching exercises of the wrist, hand, and fingers have been used.
Most cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have been found to be without a specific cause and certain individuals may be genetically predisposed to this condition.
CAUSES
In most of the cases the cause is unknown or idiopathic. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be associated with any condition that causes pressure on the median
nerve at the wrist. Some common conditions that can lead to this syndrome include obesity, hypothyroidism, arthritis, diabetes, and trauma.
Other causes include intrinsic factors that exert pressure within the tunnel, and extrinsic factors i.e.pressure exerted from outside the tunnel like
lipomas, ganglion, and vascular malformation, and overexertion.
Other causes are:-
Pregnancy
hypothyroidism
diabete
acromegaly
osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
trauma and fracture of wrist bone
Occupations
Stress and obesity.
SYMPTOMS
Carpal tunnel syndrome produces a series of symptoms from mild to extreme. Those are as following:-
- The patient may experience numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the thumb and fingers, particularly the index and middle fingers, which are
affected by the median nerve.
- Weakness in the thumb
- Pain that increases when you use your hand and wrist more.
- Individuals also experience pain in the hands or wrists and some report to have lost gripping strength.
- Pain also develops in the arm and shoulder and swelling of the hand, which increases at night.
- Numbness and paresthesias in the median nerve distribution are the neuropathic symptoms (NS) of carpal tunnel entrapment syndrome.
- Weakness and atrophy of the thennar muscles may occur if the condition remains untreated
TIPS TO RELIEVE CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Here are the following points which can relieve the pain associated with this problem
- Avoid overusing the effected wrist or hand.
- Try to use the unaffected hand the more.
- Use pillow under it for the support.
- Avoid holding the wrist in downward bent position for a long period.
HOW TO PREVENT CARPLE TUNNEL SYNDROME
- Get the diseases treated which may cause carple tunnel syndrome.
- Overweights should loose the weight.
- Prevent resting your hand on the hard surface for long time.
- Try to prevent bending, twisting or extending your hand for the long time.
- Take regular break from repeated hand movements to give your hands or wrists time for proper rest.
- Dont sit or stand in the same position the whole day.
- While writing or using the key board adjust the height of the chair so to level your forearms with the level of the table.
HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT
Homeopathic remedies are prescribed by symptoms rather than conditions, as each case of a particular illness can manifest differently in different
people. There may be symptoms not related to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and this may not be an exhaustive list of symptoms
Some of the common remedies are Apis mellifica , Arnica Montana, Guaiacum