It’s the bane of artists, writers, and desk jockeys everywhere, and it almost seems inevitable. Carpal tunnel syndrome, often just called carpal tunnel, is an affliction that can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected hand and arm. It seems merely annoying in concept, maybe offering some slight interference with daily life, but carpal tunnel is nothing to be trifled with. If left alone, it could potentially cause severe nerve and muscle damage later on. Here in Atlanta, there are many people who are prone to carpal tunnel, and we at AICA Orthopedics want to help reduce these cases through information.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Before we go into prevention methods, we should clarify what exactly carpal tunnel syndrome is. Put simply, it’s caused by pressure on the median nerve. This nerve runs down the length of your arm and through the eponymous carpal tunnel into the palm of your hand. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway of bones and ligaments and can easily pinch the median nerve in the right conditions.
The symptoms of carpal tunnel boil down to two main factors:
- Numbness – You may feel a numbness or tingling in your hands, not unlike a static shock between your fingers. Typically, all fingers except the pinky are affected, and the sensation may spread through the hand and up the arm. It tends to flare up when the hand is curled into a “holding” position—something often done while writing, driving a car, or texting on a cellphone. It may also occur as your hand curls up in your sleep, which may wake you up in the night. Though it tends to come in waves, it can become constant if left alone.
- Weakness – You can lose control of your hand and drop things. This could be caused by numbness in your hand or weakness in the pinching muscles of your thumb, which are both regulated by the median nerve.
The Risks of Neglect
Carpal tunnel is a nuisance on its own, but when left untreated, it can have serious consequences. Unattended, what starts as a weakness and numbness in the arm and wrist can turn into permanent nerve damage, muscle damage, and even a chronic pain disorder. This is why it’s important that you seek treatment for carpal tunnel as soon as you can.
Risk Factors
Now that you know the signs of carpal tunnel, let’s discuss why you may be at risk for it. Carpal tunnel rarely has a direct cause, apart from the pressure on the median nerve. Instead, it’s the culmination of continued risk factors over time. These risk factors can include:
Repetitive or Violent Hand Motions
The most common association when considering people at high risk for carpal tunnel are those who do the same cramped, repetitive motions with their hands day in and day out. This often means creative types such as artists with their brushes and writers with their pens, but it can also apply to office workers using computer mice and even wheelchair users with manual chairs. Violent vibrating motions, such as those caused by a jackhammer or massage wand, can also cause this type of nerve compression.
Weight
It’s been shown that those who are more heavyset are at higher risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. This is likely due to increased pressure on the nerve from the increase in fat surrounding it, as well as the body needing to exert more strength in day-to-day life in order to accommodate for the increased weight.
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause swelling of the extremities, which may put pressure on the median nerve.
Pre-existing Conditions
Certain health conditions have been found to be linked to carpal tunnel. It has been linked to illnesses such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid gland imbalance, though there are likely more conditions out there that may increase your risk of developing it.
Hereditary Factors
A tendency towards carpal tunnel can be passed down through genetics. If your parents have suffered from carpal tunnel at some point in their lives, you may have to deal with it one day as well.
How to Prevent Carpal Tunnel
Though carpal tunnel is still a very nebulous condition, the main theme linking many of these risk factors together is increased strain and pressure on the anatomical structure of the same name. Therefore, maintaining minimal strain on the carpal tunnel can reduce your risk of developing this affliction. There are a few ways to do this, including the following.
Reducing Hand Force and Grip Strength
If your job requires you to use a cash register or a keyboard, for example, strike the keys gently rather than tapping forcefully. If you’re a writer, use a large pen with an ergonomic grip and free-flowing ink for long-term handwriting.
Take Breaks
Short, frequent breaks to stretch out your hands and wrists can dramatically reduce your chances of pinching your nerves. Stretch and bend your hands and wrists gently on a regular basis. When possible, switch tasks to break the repetition. This is especially critical if you’re working with equipment that vibrates or demands a lot of force, such as most construction equipment or firearms.
Maintain Good Posture
Avoid fully bending your wrist up or down. The optimum position is in the middle, in a relaxed state, which can be maintained by keeping your keyboard at or below elbow height. Incorrect posture, in general, can also cause your nerves to become trapped and pinched.
Despite all of these prevention tips, you may still develop carpal tunnel. If you do, there’s no doubt that you’ll want the best orthopedic doctors working on your case. Here at AICA Atlanta, we want to make sure you get the help you need before it becomes a major problem. So, even if it’s just numb and tingly today, we urge you to seek professional help before it becomes painful tomorrow.
