Carpal Tunnel - 9 tips on Prevention, Recognition, Causes, Symptoms, Signs and Treatment
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - What is it and What Causes it
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a group of symptoms affecting a person's hand or hands. It is more common in women than men and very rare in children. There are multiple reasons why it might occur which I will try to explain below.
There are three basic treatments and a number of things to do to rule out the possible causes. More often than not it is associated with an overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm and wrist.
Read on to understand more about this condition. The intention here is to help you understand the cause, the diagnostic process, and the potential treatments. Use this information to help you understand CTS, to ask good questions and make good decisions about this problem.
Personal Empowerment Program
If you want help in improving your wellness habits read more below.
As a wellness coach and Physician Assistant for 31 years I have tried to get my patients to be healthier. Often I didn't help them much, I told them what they already knew, Lose weight, exercise, quit doing this or that. Those that remained my patients often apologized for not doing better, some quit coming, they did not want to hear it and others would get feisty with me. I did not have the tools I needed to help them.
I remedied that a few years ago when I was trained to coach patients to adopt healthy behaviors. Now I am giving you what I could not give to my patients all those years
I call it my personal empowerment program. I created it so I could help you do what you decide you need to do. When you sign up to become a member, you will get 20 mp3 files that contain 10 minute wellness tips. You will be encouraged to "Ask Bruce Anything" and be able to listen to my answers live on the first Thursday of each month at 830pm eastern time. I will even let you download the audio file free that same night. I have other perks also, interviews with an emotional eating expert, a personal trainer, a pain relief coach, and others.
Don't put this off. Click on the link below and sign up now. In 15 minutes, even if it is 3 AM you can be down loading and listening to your first tip. Now, it the time, do it.
I remedied that a few years ago when I was trained to coach patients to adopt healthy behaviors. Now I am giving you what I could not give to my patients all those years
I call it my personal empowerment program. I created it so I could help you do what you decide you need to do. When you sign up to become a member, you will get 20 mp3 files that contain 10 minute wellness tips. You will be encouraged to "Ask Bruce Anything" and be able to listen to my answers live on the first Thursday of each month at 830pm eastern time. I will even let you download the audio file free that same night. I have other perks also, interviews with an emotional eating expert, a personal trainer, a pain relief coach, and others.
Don't put this off. Click on the link below and sign up now. In 15 minutes, even if it is 3 AM you can be down loading and listening to your first tip. Now, it the time, do it.
- The gateway to Personal Empowerment Plan is here, click away.
- PEP is what we all want. This PEP will empower you. Don't wait. I will guard your privacy just like I would my own. If you don't like it, you can quit anytime with a simple click on a link at the bottom of any page I send you. There won't be any spam either, I promise.
NeuroMuscular Massage for Carpal Tunnel symdrome
Hear Kathryn Merrow, the Pain Relief Coach via mp3
I interviewed Kathryn about CTS in Feb 2009 for an hour. She has a wealth of
knowledge and loves to share it. I would like to send you a like to her interview.
Email me through Squidoo and ask me for it and I will forward you the link.
knowledge and loves to share it. I would like to send you a like to her interview.
Email me through Squidoo and ask me for it and I will forward you the link.
Kathryn Merrow - Blog Talk Radio - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Listen and talk to a Pain Relief Coach Live
Kathryn has a show on blog talk radio. She discusses Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as well as other sources of pain. You can listen live or to the replay. Check out Kathryn.
- Blog Talk Radio and Kathryn Merrow "The Pain Relief Coach"
- Listen to Kathryn discuss remedies and strategies for relief of problems, like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and not just the symptoms.
Simple Pain Relief
Becasue you deserve to feel better!
My name is Kathryn Merrow, I've been helping people get out of pain since 1992. Over the years as a neuromuscular massage therapist, I have discovered so many natural, logical ways you can get rid of all types of pains, syndromes, symptoms and dysfunctions--including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Now, I'm The Pain Relief Coach and I help people just like you understand WHY they have Carpal Tunnel symptoms and the simple, natural steps to become pain-free.
I want to send you my Special Report, as well as the audio recording, of this important information. In this special report, "Ten of the Top Most Common Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome",
Now, I'm The Pain Relief Coach and I help people just like you understand WHY they have Carpal Tunnel symptoms and the simple, natural steps to become pain-free.
I want to send you my Special Report, as well as the audio recording, of this important information. In this special report, "Ten of the Top Most Common Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome",
- Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief Book
- you will learn:
* How Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be relieved naturally.
* How trigger points cause CTS--and what they are.
* How your back muscles cause CTS.
* Steps you can take to start getting rid of your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome right away.
* How muscles in your neck can cause CTS.
Obesity and Over Weight are associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Let me help you. Join my Ask an Expert Anything teleseminars that are free each week.
Sign up for my free teleseminar - Ask an Expert Anything! Every Wednesday. I cover a variety of topics and have frequent special guests with expertise you want to learn from. Come on over and join us.
- Sign up for Ask an Exp[ert Anything on my blog
- Get the Skinney is my blog on wellness and health related topics. Sign up to get its updates and/or sign up for my teleseminar Ask an Expert Anything. Both sign up forms are at the top of the far right column. You get the benefit of privacy protection, you get to participate in the discussion by asking questions and you do not have to pay anything to attend.
Even if you can't afford to pay attention, you can afford to attend Ask an Expert Anything.
You really CAN NOT afford to miss it.
Don't believe me, read the testimonials on my blog. They are under the category called - Testimonials at the top of my blog. Talk to you soon. We begin a new series on October 23, 2008
Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief Now
A blog by my friend Kathryn Merrow
Kathryn has a special interest in pain relief and cutting through all the noise to get to some facts and some alternative therapies.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWhat is the carpal tunnel and how does carpal tunnel syndrome occur?
Decreased space and increased pressure slows circulation in the median nerve.
The carpal tunnel is a place in the palm of the hand near the wrist. It is formed by the carpal bones of the wrist and the ligament that spans the space across the palm side of the wrist just under the skin.
Through the carpal tunnel from the forearm into the hand are the flexor tendons, attached to the muscles that allow the fingers to flex and grip. Also in the tunnel is the median nerve that runs the flexor muscles of the thumb and gives sensation to part of the palm and palm sides of the fingers. Also there are arteries, veins, lymphatics and small amounts of other tissues.
Below are links where you can find illustrations of the carpal tunnel, the compression of the median nerve and the surgical procedure sometimes needed to fix it.
Through the carpal tunnel from the forearm into the hand are the flexor tendons, attached to the muscles that allow the fingers to flex and grip. Also in the tunnel is the median nerve that runs the flexor muscles of the thumb and gives sensation to part of the palm and palm sides of the fingers. Also there are arteries, veins, lymphatics and small amounts of other tissues.
Below are links where you can find illustrations of the carpal tunnel, the compression of the median nerve and the surgical procedure sometimes needed to fix it.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-links to more information.
Pictures and articles about carpal tunnel syndrome.
The anatomy of the wrist, the position of the median nerve and more about carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Medline Plus illustration
- The median nerve is the one injured in carpal tunnel syndrome. It provides sensation to part of the hand. Here is the sensory distribution shown in this picture in blue.
- Medline Plus illustration
- The median nerve is compressed, squeezed by pressure in the carpal tunnel, causing carpal tunnel syndrome. Here is a picture courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.
- Medline Plus Illustration
- The last resort of therapy is surgery. Here is an illustration of CTS surgery. The carpal tunnel is opened by making an incision through the tissues of the palm of the hand and wrist.
- Get the Skinney
- Get the Skinney is my information blog. Here I write, coach and motivate my readers to better health. I do this by providing the very best information I can find, interpreting data in the news and explaining what to do with the information. The application of information to your life is what is most important.
Picture of the Manu Handbrace
This is a commercial site.
I want you to be able to see the manu brace. The one I found on Amazon is not the same according to the description. This is the same one in the AAFP article.
- Manu Hand brace for CTS
- This brace is supposed to stretch the carpal tunnel and open it. It is supposed to relieve the symptoms in this way. The article from the American Academy of Family Practice recommends this brace and also has a picture of it.
Better Understand Carpal Tunnel Sndrome
The carpal tunnel is a space on the palm side of the wrist. It is a space that is backe by the eight carpal bones of the wrist and topped by ligaments fat and skin. Inside is the only nerve going through it - the median nerve and tendons and blood vessels. When there is inflammation and swelling inside the carpal tunnel, the nerve gets squeezed. This cuts off blood to the nerve and results in numbness, stiffness and pain. Thing that cause it are repetitive motion, diabetes, pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism.
You need a good physical exam, an excellent history taken about your illness and some lab tests for the above conditions and perhaps a nerve conduction study to determine how damaged the nerve might be.
You need a good physical exam, an excellent history taken about your illness and some lab tests for the above conditions and perhaps a nerve conduction study to determine how damaged the nerve might be.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What causes it?
Below is a list of the common causes of CTS. They are not in any particular order.
- Repetitive motion. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is most often a traumatic injury of the wrist like overuse without sufficient time to recover. Any person who makes the same movement over and over is at risk for this problem.
- Pregnancy. Swelling associated with weight gain can cause swelling in the carpal tunnel and pressure on the median nerve. This usually goes away after delivery as the woman looses the weight she gained during pregancy.
- Arthritis, either degenerative or rheumatoid, of the wrist can decrease space and increase pressure in the carpal tunnel. The decreased space and increased pressure in the confined space is the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Malaligned Fractures. Break your wrist and it could heal so there is less space in the carpal tunnel.
- Gout, causes inflammation, swelling and deposits of crystals that can, you guessed it, decrease carpal tunnel space, increase pressure and injure the median nerve.
- Emotional Stress, changes body chemistry and probably results in swelling and poor rest that also interferes with recovery.
- Fluid retention in congestive heart failure or menopause or thyroid disease (not enough thyroid hormone called hypothyroidism)
- Diabetes. Deposits cholesterol in the lining of small arteries that feed nerves. This damages the nerves of the hands, feet, eyes and in men the penis. There is also a swelling effect on tissues from increased glucose.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-predicting the outcome
An article for family physicians but the best link in this lens.
Though written for physicians, this article contains information that most people can understand. Struggle with it if you have to because it is great material.
- American Family Physician
- A great article with three important areas of interest.
First, a picture of the Manu Brace. I have it listed from Amazon but no picture was available. Second, a very complete list of all the causes. Third, a form to fill out and score to predict the effectiveness of non-surgical conservative treatment of CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-stuff to help you get better.
There are a few things that can help and I have tried to locate them and display them here.
Work About Carpal Mate
Amazon Price: (as of 11/29/2009) 
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Links
Some things to see and read about CTS.
What are the choices for treatment and how is CTS diagnosed?
- Family Doctor.org-Handout on CTS
- A drawing illustrating the area of the carpal tunnel and information your doctor wants you to know about the condition. If you are going to see your doctor about pain or numbness in your hand(s), read this and write down some questions to ask.
- WebMD
- How are you examined for carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS)? WebMD has a brief explanation of what a thorough exam consists of and what you should expect. There is also a pdf file you can print that has preprinted questions for you to ask about tests that might be ordered.
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by BruceBair
Hi, Bruce Bair is a Physician Assistant working at the NC Family Doctor in Chapel Hill, NC. I created this lens for my patients. If you fi...
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