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Last posts on private forums:  sare  2008-06-16 09:56:33 matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:59 pieniadz 2008-04-12 20:52:26
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Last posts on private blogs: matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:17 mary 2008-04-12 19:27:47 |
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Lastly added medical terms:
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You are in: Main Page / Medical articles / Diseases / Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes swelling and pain of the wrist. The article presents the information about the treatment, symptoms and prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is also called merdian neuropathy of the wrist. It is a disease in which median nerve (nervus medianus) is compressed at the wrist. In the wrist there are also two other nerves: radial and ulnar nerve. The condition most frequently affects women over 40.
Causes
CTS can be an effect of overload of the wrist. People who perform precise manual work such as hair cutting, playing the piano, knitting, crocheting, writing the computer, using computer mouse are more likely to suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. These activities lead to the micro damages, if accumulated - they cause overburdening.
The causes also include such elements as hormonal imbalances, degenerations or inflammations of the wrist.
Symptoms
- sensation of "pain and needles" around the thumb and ring finger
- sudden hand pains, especially in the night
- pain irradiating to the forearm, arm and shoulder
- hand edema
- feeling disorders
- weakening of hand muscles, especially bone forceps
- loss of the tenar muscle
- lack of precision in the hand, limit of movements
Treatment
The treatment involves a surgical procedure during which a median nerve is decompressed. There are two types of procedures which are used: open and endoscopy, the latter being less invasive. The risk of complications is quite low.
The conservative therapy is ineffective in some serious cases. It usually means taking vitamin B6 (at least 2 months), injections with corticosteroids and physiotherapy. It can also include local cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen, acupuncture, electro stimulation, ultrasound, underwater massage, mud compresses, paraffin compresses or passive exercising. Doctors also prescribe immobilization or relieving pressure and above all, the hand needs to be protected from any effort. A good solution is also using the diuretics which reduce the edema in the wrist. It may take even several months before the wrist gets regenerated.
Added by:
mary
not connected with health care system
Added on:
2008-09-22 11:56:24 ,
Updated:
2008-09-22 11:58:58
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