Carpel Tunnel Syndrome? Fingers in Blue Too!

The wrist has eight bones and four joints. Scaphoid, trapezium, trapezoid, hamate, pisiform, lunate and carp metacarpal joint are bones of the wrist .The carpel tunnel syndrome affects 1 in 100. Both men and women can develop it but women of the age groups of 30s to 50s are more susceptible to it. The carpal tunnel is a channel in the palm side of the wrist. In the arranged the bones are arranged in a semi-circle that is covered in the top by a ligament and this makes the passage for the carpel tunnel. This is a painful disorder occurring due to compression in one of the important nerves in the wrist. When the median nerve that runs from the forearm in to the hand is pressed in the wrist. Most likely the disorder is used to congenital pre-disposition. This is generally seen in people who performing assembly line work.

Symptoms:

This affects the thumb, index finger, middle finger and parts of the erring fingers. Some of them may even appear in the arm or the shoulders. They are pain, weakness, numbness in the hand and wrist. Later on 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. The symptoms may be mild and may occur from time to time. The symptoms may worsen at nights or first thing in the mornings.

Treatment:

The treatment includes the use of antisteroidal inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen and pain relievers. It also includes the use of cool packs, oral intake of prednisone or injection of lidocaine in the wrists. The initial treatment generally requires rest for the affected hand and wrist for around two weeks and immobilizing the wrist in the splint to provide support. The stretching and strengthening exercises are good. If the swelling lasts for more than six months the doctor may recommend surgery of the band of tissues around the wrist and to reduce the pressure on the median nerve. The use of correct posture and wrist movements in the treatments days is crucial. Exercises need to be coupled with frequent rest breaks. Wearing finger gloves assists in keeping the finger or the wrist bones warm and flexible. The use of corticosteriode tablets, hydrocortisone, Voltoral may help.