If you happen to have a job where you constantly use your wrists and hands, you may be familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome. You may be all too familiar with the tightening in your wrist and forearm, the numbness and tingling, and even pain. You may even wake up in the night with these sensations, leaving you to wonder what you can possibly do about it.
To understand what carpal tunnel syndrome does, you need to learn about the physiology of your wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed. This debilitating and sometimes painful condition usually needs some type of treatment to make it better.
This is not a great condition for those who rely on their hands and arms to do their jobs. If you are a typist or work in an office, then you know that carpal tunnel syndrome can nearly cost you your job. It is the same for others who work in construction, who are painters or who may even cut hair for a living. People take for granted that their hands and wrists can keep performing even under the greatest of strains and so they are surprised when they start feeling pain and numbness in their hands or arms.
Surgery is often recommended for those who are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel surgery may be done under local or regional anesthesia. During surgery, the transverse carpal ligament is cut to relieve the pressure on the median nerve. This ligament passes horizontally around all the other ligaments that run vertically from the arm to the hand. The theory is that cutting this ligament will release the compression on the median nerve. The transverse carpal ligament will then fuse together more loosely with scar tissue, making more room for the nerves and ligaments.
Surgery outcomes cannot be predicted, and when you are dealing with a delicate area like the wrist, it can become complicated. Carpal tunnel surgery and rehabilitation may cost up to $10,000, plus all the time you will need to recover properly. You may also find that you lose strength in your wrist or arm.
It may be easier than you think to prevent or relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. To begin with, take some time off from your usual tasks to let your hands and wrists have a rest. Even if you can only take a few days, it can help. There are wrist exercises you can do to stretch the transverse carpal ligament that can help. This will help ease pressure on the nerve and ligaments involved. You may need to work with a physical therapist to find the right exercises that work best for you. Results should begin to be felt quickly. Surgery should be a last resort.
Preventing carpal tunnel is fairly easy. With only a little effort, the stretches and exercises will reduce the compression of your median nerve so you can avoid surgery.
To understand what carpal tunnel syndrome does, you need to learn about the physiology of your wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed. This debilitating and sometimes painful condition usually needs some type of treatment to make it better.
This is not a great condition for those who rely on their hands and arms to do their jobs. If you are a typist or work in an office, then you know that carpal tunnel syndrome can nearly cost you your job. It is the same for others who work in construction, who are painters or who may even cut hair for a living. People take for granted that their hands and wrists can keep performing even under the greatest of strains and so they are surprised when they start feeling pain and numbness in their hands or arms.
Surgery is often recommended for those who are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel surgery may be done under local or regional anesthesia. During surgery, the transverse carpal ligament is cut to relieve the pressure on the median nerve. This ligament passes horizontally around all the other ligaments that run vertically from the arm to the hand. The theory is that cutting this ligament will release the compression on the median nerve. The transverse carpal ligament will then fuse together more loosely with scar tissue, making more room for the nerves and ligaments.
Surgery outcomes cannot be predicted, and when you are dealing with a delicate area like the wrist, it can become complicated. Carpal tunnel surgery and rehabilitation may cost up to $10,000, plus all the time you will need to recover properly. You may also find that you lose strength in your wrist or arm.
It may be easier than you think to prevent or relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. To begin with, take some time off from your usual tasks to let your hands and wrists have a rest. Even if you can only take a few days, it can help. There are wrist exercises you can do to stretch the transverse carpal ligament that can help. This will help ease pressure on the nerve and ligaments involved. You may need to work with a physical therapist to find the right exercises that work best for you. Results should begin to be felt quickly. Surgery should be a last resort.
Preventing carpal tunnel is fairly easy. With only a little effort, the stretches and exercises will reduce the compression of your median nerve so you can avoid surgery.
About the Author:
Many carpal tunnel sufferers resort to surgery to try when looking for relief from their pain. However, what some doctors don't tell you is that invasive surgery doesn't always alleviate all of your symptoms and can actually cause more problems. Follow this link to learn about avoiding carpal tunnel surgery.
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