Are you struggling with pain, numbness, and tingling in your hand and arm? The symptoms point towards carpal tunnel syndrome, which could also include weakness and pain in the wrist and forearm and hand clumsiness. Carpal tunnel syndrome North Austin results from a compressed median nerve which gives your thumb, index, and middle finger sensation. The nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, a passage from your wrist to the hand made of bones, ligaments, and tendons. The passage can become narrower or constricted by concerns like swelling or tumors. The common carpal tunnel syndrome risk factors include:
Anatomic consideration
Have you had a hand injury like fracture, strain, sprain, or dislocation? Injuries and concerns affecting joints and bones, like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, can cause small bone deformities. The deformities alter the space in the tunnel, which can put excessive pressure on the median nerve. Besides such medical considerations, some people are born with smaller carpal tunnels and are likely to develop the syndrome. The small size is prevalent in women as they naturally have a smaller carpal tunnel area. This means the nerve is likely to be compressed even without external factors contributing.
Your occupation
Your hand and wrist movement can increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. For instance, if you type or use the keyboard a lot, you often need frequent and repetitive small movements in your hands. Occupations such as sporting activities that require repetitive grasping movements with your hands also increase the syndrome’s risk. Other occupations, like an assembly line where you use vibrating tools for an extended period, also expose your hands and wrists to repetitive flexing. Such hand and wrist movement puts excessive pressure on the median nerve, which can cause or aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome.
Body changes
Fluid retention, hormonal, and metabolic changes, common during pregnancy and menopause or due to conditions like thyroid disease, can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. The changes often result in increased pressure within the carpal tunnel. This irritates the median nerve, resulting in pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling sensation. Carpal tunnel syndrome resulting from changes like pregnancy usually resolves or improves after childbirth.
Nerve damage
Nerve damage can result from various factors like injuries or medical conditions. Conditions like diabetes increase the nerve damage risk, and while it commonly affects the legs, it can also impact the median nerve. This is because the changes in blood sugar levels affect all nerves.
Genetic predisposition
If you have a close relative or family history of carpal tunnel syndrome, you are more likely to develop the condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is prevalent as you age and can be associated with the damage experienced over the years. While risk factors like gender and genetics are not modifiable, you can take various steps to mitigate the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Timely diagnosis and treatment are also essential, allowing you to follow less invasive measures like splinting your hand, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy while still viable. You may need surgery to alleviate the median nerve compression in other cases. Visit Republic Spine and Pain today for carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis and treatment.