Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
One of the first symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is gradual tingling and numbness in the hand(s), typically followed by dull, vague pain where the nerve gives sensation in the hand. The hand may begin to feel like it's asleep, especially in the early morning hours after a night's rest.
Sometimes pain may even spread up the arm to the shoulder. If the condition progresses, the thenar muscles of the thumb can weaken, causing the hand to be clumsy when picking up a glass or cup. If the pressure keeps building in the carpal tunnel, the thenar muscles may begin to shrink (atrophy).
Touching the pad of the thumb to the tips of the other fingers becomes difficult, making it hard to grasp items such as a steering wheel, newspaper, or telephone.
Activities that are causing your symptoms need to be changed or stopped if at all possible. Avoid repetitive hand motions, heavy grasping, holding onto vibrating tools, and positioning or working with your wrist bent down and out. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to help you quit. Lose weight if you are overweight. Reduce your caffeine intake.
At Central Arkasnas Sports Medicine, we are prepared to help you make a qualified decision regarding surgery, rehabilitation and post rehabilitative care. Our staff understands these issues. We look forward to consulting with you. Please contact us immediately to discuss your options.
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