Carpal tunnel syndrome can be prevented

Until the time when manual typewriters appeared, carpal tunnel syndrome was a very rare disease. In general, he was subjected to drivers and professional musicians. However, at the present time the number of patients with this diagnosis is increasing all over the world. Our country is no exception. Doctors believe that in the near future their number will not only not decrease, but will also grow.

Carpal tunnel syndrome in women develops about ten times more often than in men. And mostly it occurs after forty-five years, when hormonal changes take place in the body. Although there is a possibility of the appearance of this disease at any age.

The wrist canal syndrome develops, as a rule, gradually. First, in the dominant hand in the morning there is an unpleasant sensation of numbness, which usually takes about an hour after two or three. If you do not start treatment, then after a while there is a burning sensation or tingling in all the fingers, except for the little finger. These symptoms in combination with night numbness very often cause sleep disturbances. If at this time to take measures to improve blood circulation in the hand, for example, to lower it and intensively move, then all unpleasant manifestations usually pass quickly. However, in the morning they reappear.

With the progression of the disease, the sensitivity of the fingers is significantly reduced . The patient can hardly hold such small objects as a needle, a pen, a pencil, etc. Often there are reactions to changes in temperature in the surrounding air: pain and numbness. In addition, many patients have pale skin on the hands.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause dyspnea and pain syndrome, which spread upward and can reach the elbow, and sometimes reach the shoulders and neck. In this case, an inaccurate diagnosis is often made, and a treatment is prescribed, which practically does not give any results. Although experienced doctors can establish the correct diagnosis based on a thorough analysis of the patient's complaints and the results of the tests that are performed during the examination. In case of doubt, a tomography or an x-ray of the cervical spine is prescribed, as well as a blood test for rheumatic tests.

To develop this disease lead monotonous movements of the hand, which after a certain time causes a thickening of the transverse ligament, covering a fairly narrow channel in the area of the wrist, in which the middle nerve is located. In addition, in this place of the wrist are blood vessels, tendons, muscles. The transverse thickened ligament compresses the middle nerve, which leads to numbness. The lumen in the carpal canal decreases, and the muscles rub against each other during brush strokes, which causes inflammation and pain.

Carpal tunnel syndrome most often occurs in people who constantly work with a computer mouse and keyboard. Most experts consider this disease to be professional. To avoid it, you just need to follow simple advice:

• Adjust the height of the table and chair;
• Use only modern ergonomic means for entering information - mouse and keyboard;
• It's reasonable to alternate work and rest;
• Regularly perform simple physical exercises for the hands.

At the first signs of this disease, you should go to a neurologist or rheumatologist for testing. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, the treatment will depend on the phase of its development. It can be both medicamental and surgical. In surgical treatment, tissue is cut, which compresses the nerve, after which a course of restorative physical therapy is needed. It should be remembered that if you do not treat this disease, then the loss of working capacity for several months, and in some cases, even years, is possible.