seeking medical advice

When to seek medical advice
If signs and symptoms that you think might be due to carpal tunnel syndrome interfere with your normal activities — including sleep — and they persist, see your doctor. If you leave the condition untreated, nerve and muscle damage can occur.

Complementary and alternative medicine
Yoga and other relaxation techniques may help with chronic pain that occurs with some muscle and joint conditions. Yoga postures designed for strengthening, stretching and balancing each joint in the upper body, as well as the upper body itself, may help reduce the pain and improve the grip strength of people with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Other options for treatment involve special types of physical therapy. Many of the methods used for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Heat
Massage
Chiropractic manipulation
Osteopathic manipulation
Water therapy (hydrotherapy)
Ultrasound treatments may be used, but have had variable results in studies. The National Institutes of Health has released a consensus statement acknowledging that acupuncture also may be useful for treating the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, magnet therapy, laser acupuncture and chiropractic care haven't provided the same benefits in controlled trials.
You may have to experiment to find a treatment that works for you. Still, always check with your doctor before trying any complementary or alternative treatment.

This information that I write about here is super important for people with carpal tunnel because it helps make life way easier for us.

Coping Skills

'If you experience chronic pain or can't use your hands as before, you may become depressed or suffer from low self-esteem. In addition, if your hand symptoms are caused or worsened by your current profession or leisure activities, you may face the tough decision of switching careers or giving up hobbies. You may also feel that you aren't actively contributing to your family if you can't drive a car or perform ordinary household tasks.
Support groups for people with carpal tunnel syndrome can help you find out more information about your condition plus offer advice and solace. Stress management and relaxation techniques also may help you deal with the psychological and emotional issues that may accompany carpal tunnel syndrome.'
Source: mayoclinic.com

I like the fact that this information is very realistic. I think many people lose self esteem when they have to deal with something that can make them feel less useful. I think that the tip it gives us here, about stress managment and relaxation techniques is great for all of us who have to live with this syndrome.

Clinical significance

The term 'carpal tunnel' is also used quite commonly to refer to 'carpal tunnel syndrome' which is a condition where the median nerve is pinched within the tunnel and causes pain and/or numbness of the wrist/hand, once thought to be a result of repetitive motion such as painting or typing.
The carpal tunnel is important because the median nerve can be compressed in cases such as the following:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Wrist dislocations
Fractures around the wrist

carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median (pronounced mee-dee-an) nerve becomes compressed.
The median nerve is the nerve that travels down the arm into the hand. With carpal tunnel syndrome the nerve is squeezed as it passes through the narrow path (or tunnel) at the wrist.

The pressure on the wrist can cause the fingers and thumb to feel tingly and numb. They may feel paralysed, or unable to move.
The median nerve is a large nerve that travels down the centre of the forearm to the skin of the thumb, the index finger, the long middle finger and half of the third, or ring, finger. It also supplies sensation to the muscles of the base of the thumb.

To enter the hand the median nerve must pass through the narrow opening at the wrist joint. On one side of the wrist joint are bones, and on the other is a strong ligament that runs across the wrist. The ligament and the bones form a firm channel that has little ability to expand. Therefore, if this ‘tunnel’ becomes swollen or narrowed any resulting pressure is applied within. Several tendons also pass through this tunnel but it is the median nerve, being the most sensitive nerve in the area, that is most prone to damage from this type of pressure.

If any nerve in the body is bumped or has sustained pressure applied to it, this can cause sensory changes such as tingling or numbness. For example, bumping the 'funny bone' at the elbow can cause tingling or numbness in the fingers.

When pressure is applied to a nerve for a long period this can cause loss of 'motor power' that the nerve supplies to the muscle. For example, if a person sits in an uncomfortable position for a long period of time this can put pressure on the nerves in the legs, causing them to ‘go to sleep’ and feel temporarily paralysed. This same phenomenon occurs with carpal tunnel syndrome, except that with carpal tunnel syndrome the pressure is more constant and ongoing and the resulting symptoms more sustained

What causes CTS and who is more likely to develop it?

Genetic predisposition. The carpal tunnel is smaller in some people than others.
Repetitive Movements. People who do the same movements with their wrists and hands over and over may be more likely to develop CTS.

People with certain types of jobs are more likely to have CTS, including manufacturing and assembly line workers, grocery store checkers, violinists, and carpenters. Some hobbies and sports that use repetitive hand movements can also cause CTS, such as golfing, knitting, and gardening. Whether or not long-term typing or computer use causes CTS is still being debated. Limited research points to a weak link, but more research is needed.
Injury or Trauma.

A sprain or a fracture of the wrist can cause swelling and pressure on the nerve, increasing the risk of CTS. Forceful and stressful movements of the hand and wrist can also cause trauma, such as strong vibrations caused by heavy machinery or power tools.
Pregnancy.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy and build up of fluid can put pregnant women at greater risk of getting CTS, especially during the last few months. Most doctors treat CTS in pregnant women with wrist splits or rest, rather than surgery, as CTS almost always goes away following childbirth.
Menopause. Hormonal changes during menopause can put women at greater risk of getting CTS. Also, in some postmenopausal women, the wrist structures become enlarged and can press on the wrist nerve.

Breast Cancer. Some women who have a mastectomy get lymphedema, the build-up of fluids that go beyond the lymph system's ability to drain it. In mastectomy patients, this causes pain and swelling of the arm. Although rare, some of these women will get CTS due to pressure on the nerve from this swelling.

Medical Conditions. People who have diabetes, hypothyroidism, lupus, obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to get CTS. In some of these patients, the normal structures in the wrist can become enlarged and lead to CTS.
Also, smokers with CTS usually have worse symptoms and recover more slowly than nonsmokers.

Risk Factors

Some studies suggest that carpal tunnel syndrome can result from overuse or strain in certain job tasks that require a combination of repetitive, forceful and awkward or stressed motions of your hands and wrists. Examples of these include using power tools — such as chippers, grinders, chain saws or jackhammers — and heavy assembly line work, such as occurs in a meatpacking plant. Although repetitive computer use is commonly assumed to cause carpal tunnel syndrome, the scientific evidence for this association is weak.
Although it's not clear which activities can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, if your work or hobbies are hand-intensive — involving a combination of awkward, repetitive wrist or finger motions, forceful pinching or gripping and working with vibrating tools — you may be at higher risk of developing the condition.

Other risk factors include:

Sex. Women are three times as likely as men are to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. The incidence in women peaks after menopause, and the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome also increases in men during middle-age.

Certain health conditions. Conditions including some thyroid problems, diabetes, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis can increase your risk. Women who are pregnant, taking oral contraceptives or going through menopause also are at increased risk, most likely due to hormonal changes. Fluid retention may be a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy. Fortunately, carpal tunnel syndrome related to pregnancy almost always improves after childbirth. People who smoke cigarettes may experience worse symptoms and slower recovery from carpal tunnel syndrome than nonsmokers do.

carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Symptoms usually start gradually, with pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. As symptoms worsen, 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. In some cases no direct cause of the syndrome can be identified. Most likely the disorder is due to a congenital predisposition - the carpal tunnel is simply smaller in some people than in others. However, the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome is especially common in those performing assembly line work.

self-care tips for people with carpal tunnel

Self-care tips are one of the most important aspects of informing yourself. These tips come in handy when you feel like something is wrong and you might be feeling some pain.
Self-care
Quick breaks, stretching, aspirin or other over-the-counter NSAIDs may relieve your symptoms temporarily.
You might also want to try wearing a wrist splint at night and avoid sleeping on your hands to help ease the pain or numbness in your wrists and hands. The splint should be snug but not tight. If pain, numbness or weakness recurs and persists, see your doctor.

prevention tips

I read this and chuckled inside me beacause I used to be one of those that thought Carpal tunnel was something new
'Some people might think that carpal tunnel syndrome is a new condition of the information technology age, born from long hours of computer keyboarding. But carpal tunnel syndrome is nothing new. Evidence of people experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome occurs in medical records dating back to the beginning of the 20th century.'
On the same web site I found these really great tips that >I hadn't read before on how to prevent this disease

There are no proven strategies to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, but to protect your hands from a variety of ailments, take the following precautions:

Reduce your force and relax your grip. Most people use more force than needed to perform many tasks involving the hands. If your work involves a cash register, for instance, hit the keys softly. For prolonged handwriting, use a big pen with an oversized, soft grip adapter and free-flowing ink. This way you won't have to grip the pen tightly or press as hard on the paper.

Take frequent breaks. Every 15 to 20 minutes give your hands and wrists a break by gently stretching and bending them. Alternate tasks when possible. If you use equipment that vibrates or that requires you to exert a great amount of force, taking breaks is even more important.

Watch your form. Avoid bending your wrist all the way up or down. A relaxed middle position is best. If you use a keyboard, keep it at elbow height or slightly lower.

Improve your posture. Incorrect posture can cause your shoulders to roll forward. When your shoulders are in this position, your neck and shoulder muscles are shortened, compressing nerves in your neck. This can affect your wrists, fingers and hands.

Keep your hands warm. You're more likely to develop hand pain and stiffness if you work in a cold environment. If you can't control the temperature at work, put on fingerless gloves that keep your hands and wrists warm.

source: www.mayoclinic.org

carpal tunnel

There is no evidence to suggest that they actually decrease the flexor tenosynovium. Splints worn during the day decrease the muscle pumping action of the hand, cause more swelling in the hand, and increase carpal tunnel symptoms. Splints can be helpful at night for positioning the hand to avoid sleeping in marked inflection which puts increased pressure on the nerve. Vitamin B-6 is almost always ineffective. Topical creams by “renowned doctors” don’t work. Magnets don’t work for carpal tunnel syndrome. Dietary supplements don’t work.
Steroid injections are only temporary and can cause permanent injury to the nerve if the needle is accidentally placed in the nerve, which usually happens on the third or fourth injection.
An open carpal tunnel release works, but it can cause weeks or months of pain and inability to work. Carpal tunnel syndrome was a term first used in the 1930’s to describe an entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist. There is nothing new whatsoever about carpal tunnel syndrome. Human beings have had carpal tunnel syndrome for as long as there have been carpal tunnels. The first open carpal tunnel release was described in 1947 and nothing changed very much for 50 years until the advent of the endoscopic procedure in 1990.

Tips to avoid carpal tunnel

These are some great tips to avoid carpal tunnel

STEP 1: Set up your work space with adjustable screens, keyboards and work surfaces to eliminate extra strain to the wrists and hands. Position your keyboard so that it is at elbow level. Your forearms, wrists and hands should be in a straight line parallel to the floor as you type.
STEP 2: Use a wrist pad with your keyboard. A wrist pad is a cushioned support that rests under your wrists, runs the length of your keyboard and takes the stress off your wrists by raising them to the level of the keyboard.
STEP 3: Exercise before and after work. Try the following: Stand and extend both arms out from your chest with palms facing out and fingers pointing up. Hold for a count of five. Straighten your wrists and relax fingers, then make a tight fist with each hand. Bend your wrists down and count to five. Repeat these stretches ten times for each session.
STEP 4: Take short breaks every hour at work. During your break, stand up, breathe in slowly and deeply, allow your arms to hang loosely, and shake for a couple of seconds. This will prevent buildup of muscle tension.
STEP 5: Sit up straight in your chair while working, and remember to tap keys lightly as you type.
STEP 6: Break up repetitive types of work with other duties throughout the day so your hands and eyes get a break.

watch out, an epidemic!

Unbelievable! Carpal Tunnel SyndrOme is reaching epidemic prOpOrtiOns! 'More than 28 million Americans use computers each day and, according to officials at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA) many risk coming down with carpal tunnel syndrome, the painful, debilitating condition that is the number one disability reported by insurance companies today. Repetitive musculoskeletal injuries like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have become the nation's leading workplace health cost. RSI represents 62 percent of all North American WC claims and results in nearly $15-20 billion in lost work time and Workers Compensation claims each year, reports OSHA.'

Excersises I DO

>I knOw so many people that have gotten joint problems frOm the amount of time they spend doing manual jobs, like typing. >I have started tO dO sOme excercises fOr my wrists> >Here are twO Of them> >I find the first One really useful>

EXTEND YOUR FOREARMS parallel to the floor, palms facing down, and make fists with both hands. Now flex your wrists downward while keeping the fist. Hold for five.

GENTLY AND SLOWLY PULL EACH FINGER in succession for a few seconds. A loud popping noise is OK-this exercise (unlike cracking your knuckles) won't cause arthritis but warm up your hands with the previous stretches first. A few repetitions of each, done several times a day, should keep your carpal tunnels computer-fit for pages to come.