Posts Tagged ‘Carpal Tunnel Syndrome’

Do You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Options to Heal Aching Wrists

If you have recurring wrist pain and suspect it is carpal tunnel syndrome, there are simple tests to confirm it. Aching wrists and numb hands can be caused by other conditions, but the most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are numbness or tingling in the fingers and pain in the hand, fingers or wrist.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist other conditions that can exacerbate that include arthritis, pregnancy, obesity and hypothyroidism.

There are three main tests:

In the Tinel Test, the doctor presses on (or taps) the median nerve in the patient’s wrist. If the patient feels increased tingling or a shock-type sensation, that’s a good indication of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Phalen Test is one you can do yourself. Hold your arms straight out in front of you at ninety degrees to your body. Press the backs of your hands together for one minute. This compresses the carpal tunnel and will cause similar symptoms. Read more…

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Vitamins and Minerals – Can Supplements Help Reduce Your CTS Symptoms?

There are nutrients that your body needs. If your body doesn’t get the nutritional things that it requires, you will have one type of disease or another.

Calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron are major minerals that are required for muscle health and function. If you don’t have enough, it increases the irritability of myofascial trigger points. Trigger points are areas of soft tissue (myofascial) or muscle that cause pain elsewhere. The muscles in your neck and upper body can harbor trigger points that “fire” into your hand and wrist–your carpal tunnel.

Calcium is essential (necessary) to the muscles so they can do their best job. Magnesium and potassium are also essential because they interact with calcium and are related to muscle health and contraction.

All of the parts of your body work together. So do all the vitamins. So do all the minerals.

If you take calcium, but don’t have enough Vitamin D3 (the sunshine vitamin) you won’t be able to absorb the calcium.

Without enough magnesium and potassium, calcium won’t absorb properly. Read more…

Rid Yourself of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Easily And Inexpensively

Are You Suffering From Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?

The JKL Medical Dictionary (1998) defines carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as a restriction or narrowing of the large nerve which passes through the wrist and to the fingers. The carpal tunnel is the space between the sheath and the bones within the forearm and hand. The wrist in particular is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that normally functions as a support for the joint. All human forearms down to the wrists contain a covering structure called a sheath which protects and supports the tough connective tissue extending down the forearm into the hand via the wrist.

CTS symptoms usually start gradually. Symptoms include weakness when attempting to pick up lightweight objects, turning doorknobs, feelings of numbness in the thumb and fingers (usually at the palm side of the thumb) and pain from the wrist up to the elbow. Read more…

Getting to Know Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is what happens when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist. When this nerve compresses, it causes numbness and muscle weakness in the corresponding hand. It takes time to get used to living with carpal tunnel. The symptoms can be reduced in a variety of ways. It is also a syndrome that can be prevented with help from a Braidwood hospital doctor as well.

People with carpal tunnel have symptoms that increase gradually over time. The first symptom that most people experience is numbness and a burning or tingling sensation in the thumb, index and middle fingers. This takes place at night when most people tend to bend their wrists as they sleep, therefore compressing that critical nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be difficult to diagnose, so a nerve conduction study or even referral to a neurologist can help to determine the exact cause of these symptoms. Read more…

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Your Legs and Feet – What's the Connection?

There really is a connection between your legs, feet and your wrists. Honestly! Here’s how your body works.

Posture that is collapsing–it’s often called “forward head”posture–causes carpal tunnel syndrome. How?

Because forward head posture puts pressure on the muscles, blood vessels and nerves that “feed” your arm and hand. It strains the muscles in your upper back and neck which can refer pain into your hand and wrist–your carpal tunnel area.

“Poor” posture also causes a lot of strain and muscle imbalance in your legs. Here’s a way to tell whether your posture is collapsing:

Stand for about 5 minutes and then pay attention to your feet. If you notice that most of your weight is felt in your toes, rather than in toes and heels and the outer edge of your foot, that means you are collapsing forward. Your feet are giving you a clue! Read more…

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – It May Not Be Just in Your Wrist

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is categorized as a repetitive stress injury which affects the wrist and hand. It is caused by compression of the median nerve. The media nerve supplies innervation to the thumb, index finger, middle finger and 1/2 of the ring finger (in addition to part of the palm). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms include burning pain, numbness and tingling to the above referenced areas. Occasionally, there is also atrophy (shrinking and weakness) to some of the muscles in the hand (around the palm muscles).

As was mentioned earlier, carpal tunnel syndrome involves the median nerve. This nerve begins in the cervical (neck) region of the spine. It then travels down to the armpit (where the brachial plexus is – a complex web of nerves). From there, the media nerve travels down the arm, past the elbow, into the forearm and then into the wrist, hand and fingers. Anywhere along the path that the nerve travels, it has the potential to get injured. Read more…

Carpal Tunnel Exercises – Forget Them

Everyone is wishing for a painless life and that can be done. You will receive simple steps and simple ways to cure carpal tunnel syndrome quickly. It is that painful sensation that you can feel in your hands and wrists. Should our hands become useless or impaired, our lives would become extremely difficult,and carpal tunnel exercises, well forget them.

If contraction of the median nerves continues this may result in pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (although not the little finger), as well as controls impulses to the small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumbs to move. The definition of it is the space between this sheath (above) and the bones (below) making up the forearm and hand. The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that normally functions as a support for the joint.

It can be psychologically and sociologically damaging to the person. It usually occurs only in adults. These sensations are often more distinct at night and can awaken sufferers from sleep. Read more…