There鈥檚 a lot happening inside your wrist. Packed into that little space are numerous bones, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Nine of those tendons and a large nerve are all packed together in an even smaller area known as the carpal tunnel. In such close quarters, problems can arise.
鈥淎ny time those tendons become inflamed, or the wrist is flexed or extended for a prolonged period, the pressure within the carpal tunnel goes up,鈥 says Shaun Mendenhall, MD, a hand surgeon at 香蕉视频 of Utah Health. 鈥淭hat causes compression on the median nerve and potentially nerve damage if left untreated. This is what we call carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).鈥
Causes
Carpal tunnel syndrome can happen to anyone, and the causes aren't always clear. Repetitive movements of the fingers, especially with a bent wrist, can aggravate the condition. In the past, many people have blamed CTS on activities like typing. In this changing world, though, many culprits are to blame, including playing video games and even taking selfies.
鈥淲hen people are trying to take that perfect selfie, they're flexing their wrist for a prolonged period of time,鈥 Mendenhall says. 鈥淭hat can actually cause carpal tunnel symptoms.鈥
Symptoms
The symptoms of carpal tunnel are mild at first. You may notice:
- Numbness or tingling in your thumb, index, or middle finger. This sensation may even go up into your arm and shoulder.
- Weakness in your hand that causes you to drop things.
When symptoms start to impact your daily life or disrupt your sleep, it's time to see a doctor.
Treatment
Most treatments for CTS are easy and non-invasive, such as:
- Wrist splints at night help keep the wrist in a neutral position.
- Anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen, can help with pain and inflammation.
- Steroid shots can be used in chronic cases to temporarily decrease symptoms.
鈥淐arpal tunnel surgery is very effective, curing the problem in 95% or more of people with the condition,鈥 Mendenhall says. 鈥淣ow, 15 to 20 years down the line, it鈥檚 possible to get recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome, but it鈥檚 quite rare.鈥
If your case is severe, your doctor may recommend minor surgery to release pressure in the area.
Prevention
You can avoid the development of carpal tunnel or lessen its impacts by being aware of your hands and how you treat them.
- Take breaks when doing repetitive motions.
- Make sure your posture is good, with straight wrists and shoulders that aren't rolled too far forward.
- Relax your grip on pens or pencils.
- Don't punch keyboard keys aggressively.
- Keep your hands warm to avoid stiffness.
- Don鈥檛 curl up in a ball with your arms at night. Keep your wrists and elbows only slightly bent.
Your hands and wrists are an important part of your daily life. If you鈥檝e been noticing pain in these areas that won鈥檛 go away, talk with your doctor.
