Finding the Cause and the Solution for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Essentially, any excessive use of the fingers, wrists, hands, or forearms can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. This is why students so frequently experience it, because classroom activities involve constant use of the hands and wrists. It is a very common condition, affecting approximately 1 out of every 20 Americans. Some health conditions can also lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, such as: • Previous injury to the wrist, including strains, sprains, dislocations, and fractures. • Fluid retention, typically during pregnancy. • Use of medication, typically steroids. • Hormone or metabolic changes, including thyroid imbalances, pregnancy, and menopause. • Degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis. • Diabetes. How Can I Tell If I Need Surgery? In some severe cases, surgery may be a necessary step in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, inmost cases, hand therapy alone is enough to treat the condition completely. In fact, in a study published by the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, the effects of the two methods of treatment were thoroughly tested.
Based on the known side effects and risks associated with surgery, in addition to the knowledge that over 1/3 of patients are unable to return to school or work within 8 weeks after receiving their operation, researchers decided to test whether more conservative treatments could be used in replacement of surgical procedures. The results were overwhelmingly positive. 100 women with carpal tunnel syndrome were studied; 50 had received surgery, and 50 had received hand therapy. The hand therapy patients were treated with manual therapy techniques, focusing on the median nerve, in addition to stretching exercises given by their therapists. After one month, these patients had much better function during their daily activities than the surgery patients, and demonstrated stronger grip strength overall. At 3, 6, and 12 months, patients in bothgroupsshowedsimilar improvements with function and grip strength. What Can I Do on My Own? Fortunately, there are some precautions you can take to make sure you don’t develop carpal tunnel syndrome when you return to school. If you notice pain in your fingers, hands, wrists, or forearms, you can purchase a brace to ease tension while you type and write. Additional exercises you can do to prevent these areas from becoming stiff and/or provide
pain relief include: • Spiders Doing Push-ups: Begin with your hands clasped together in prayer position.Then spread your fingers apart as far as they can go. Next, create a triangle shape by separating your palms, but keeping your fingers together still. • Shake It Off: Shake out your hands, as if you have just washed themand you’re trying to air dry them. • Deep Wrist Stretch: Begin with your arm stretched straight in front of you, elbow locked, and fingers pointing downward. Spread your fingers slightly and use your other hand to press down and apply gentle pressure to your wrist and fingers, slowly pushing them as far as they’ll go. When you’ve reached maximum flexibility, hold this position for 20 seconds. When you’re finished, repeat with your other hand. Hands for Living is dedicated toward helping you achieve a pain-free life, with the least amount of discomfort possible. If you have been noticing pain in your upper extremities from schoolwork, the best decision is to contact us as soon as possible to set up a consultation with one of our CHTs. Contact us today to find out how we can relieve your carpal tunnel pains! Call us at 425- 368-7943 or visit us online at www.handsforliving.com.
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