Articles on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
My Symptoms
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
What is the prognosis?
Recruitment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Clinical Trials
Organisations for more help with Carpal Tunnel
My Symptoms
I was getting numbness and tingling in my hands and pain in my hands, fingers, wrists and forearms. It was in both hands. My right hand seemed weaker though that may have just been a perception as I was right handed and did most things, or tried to, with that hand.
I was dropping things, especially in the kitchen; could not open doors with a key easily; found typing difficult and painful: could not use scissors as I use to; carrying groceries caused days of pain and chopping veges for dinner every night was slow and caused severe pain. Basically everything requiring use of the hands hurt. This impacted on my teenage children and husband who had to help out more with daily tasks and I felt inadequate in having to constantly ask for help even though I looked normal.
If it is from working on a computer, playing a musical instrument, and from my scrapbook hobby which reqquired fine motor skills.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Symptoms usually start gradually, with pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day, and decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In some cases no direct cause of the syndrome can be identified. Most likely the disorder is due to a congenital predisposition - the carpal tunnel is simply smaller in some people than in others. The risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome is especially common in those who preform repetitive work tasks, such as assembly line work. Carpal tunnel syndrome is also associated with pregnancy and diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease, or rheumatoid arthritis.
RESOURCE: Credit to the NINDS - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. .
Last updated February 13, 2012
What is the prognosis?
In general, carpal tunnel syndrome responds well to treatment, with the majority of patients recovering completely. To prevent workplace-related carpal tunnel syndrome, workers can do on-the-job conditioning, perform stretching exercises, take frequent rest breaks, wear splints to keep wrists straight, and use correct posture and wrist position. Wearing fingerless gloves can help keep hands warm and flexible.
What research is being done?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts research on nerve-related conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and also supports research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current studies include several randomized clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions in reducing the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. Another clinical study is collecting data about carpal tunnel syndrome among construction apprentices to better understand specific work factors associated with the disorder and develop strategies to prevent its occurrence among construction and other workers. Scientists are also investigating the use of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, to prevent and treat this disorder.
NIH Patient Recruitment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Clinical Trials
| American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) P.O. Box 850 Rocklin, CA 95677-0850 ACPA@pacbell.net http://www.theacpa.org Tel: 916-632-0922 800-533-3231 Fax: 916-652-8190 |
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) National Institutes of Health, DHHS 31 Center Dr., Rm. 4C02 MSC 2350 Bethesda, MD 20892-2350 NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov http://www.niams.nih.gov Tel: 301-496-8190 |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1600 Clifton Road, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30333 inquiry@cdc.gov http://www.cdc.gov Tel: 800-311-3435 404-639-3311/404-639-3543 |
Occupational Safety & Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 http://www.osha.gov Tel: 800-321-OSHA |
