Carpal tunnel syndrome affects many people all over the world, leading to severe discomfort in case left unattended. In this blog post, we shall discuss the meaning of carpal tunnel syndrome, how this condition arises, what causes it, and the treatment alternatives like Physiotherapy clinic Newmarket and Laser therapy for pain in Newmarket are available.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Compression of the median nerve travelling through the carpal tunnel in the wrist results in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which is a medical problem itself. Bones and ligaments surround this cramped passageway at the palm side of your wrist. Conducting sensations to the anterior part of your thumb’s palm and fingers is the role for the median nerve. It also stimulates the muscles found at the base of your thumb to move.
Why and how this syndrome happens?
When there is compression or squeezing of the median nerve at the wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome occurs. Different reasons can create this compression leading to inflammation and swelling in the carpal tunnel thereby exerting pressure on the nerve.
Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Several factors can contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, including:
- Doing the exact same hand and wrist motions for a long period can make your wrist swell or inflame.
- There are people with tiny carpal tunnels which make them at high risk of nerve compression.
- Factors such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid dysfunction can heighten chances of contracting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
- The hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to raised up Veins especially around the ankle area.
- More people are likely to be affected by CTS if they work in environments where they use their hands and feet together most of the time.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
- Numbness or tingling in some of your fingers.
- Difficult to grip things with your hands, as they become weak.
- Feeling of having swelling in fingers, but in reality there will be no swelling.
- Extending pain from finder to arms to shoulders.
Management of this syndrome:
Options for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment aim at lowering the pressure on the median nerve and symptom management. These options include:
- Physiotherapy: There are few specific exercises which can improve the strength and flexibility of wrist and hand at physiotherapy clinic in Newmarket.
- Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy for pain in Newmarket at sports and spinal solutions clinic can relieve pain and decrease inflammation, this encourages healing.
- Surgery- To relieve pressure on the median nerve, surgery may be required in extreme cases. The function of carpal tunnel release surgery is to cut the ligament which compresses the nerve, thereby increasing the size of the carpal tunnel.
- Medications: Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are capable of assisting in the alleviation of pain and inflammation.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is treatable but early intervention is crucial to prevent long term damage. It is important that if you have symptoms of CTS, you should consult a doctor so as to get proper medical assistance thereby exploring various treatments available. At Sports and spinal solutions clinic, they offer Physiotherapy clinic in Ontario and Laser therapy treatment in Newmarket, Ontario.
