Hands Hurt-Numb? Over the last two weeks it’s been a bit busy at the office. (I know this will appear after the holidays but you know what I mean.) Trying to do your regular chores and job is a hassle sometimes, let alone throw in the demands of the holidays. The main thing was that I saw a lot more people with carpal tunnel than I have seen in a long time. What is carpal tunnel? Well it’s not fun that’s for sure. Your hands get tingly and numb. Your hands and wrist may hurt as well. Typically symptoms are worse at night with carpal tunnel and although pain or numbness may radiate up the forearm it does not go far. I have seen it go up to the elbow but rarely any higher. It can be difficult to pinch or grip things. Getting a hold of a needle with thread can be very difficult and so can buttoning a shirt or blouse. For people who do repetitive work such as assembly line work, typing or use vibrating tools it increases the risk of getting carpal tunnel. The wrist anatomy unfortunately can be prone to carpal tunnel. There is an opening in the center of the wrist that is about the size of a dime. It is quite small. It has nine tendons and one nerve, the median nerve, passing through that small space. Not much extra room at all. So if the tendons get used heavily; tendonitis, swelling and inflammation can develop. This puts pressure on the median nerve and it causes carpal tunnel. However the truth is so can a lot of other things. Too much fluid from something like an underactive thyroid can also increase the pressure. Also this can thicken the ligaments that go over the carpal tunnel, tightening and causing pressure. In addition here are some other causes of carpal tunnel: Diabetes Obesity Arthritis Pregnancy Menopause Cigarette Smoking Broken Wrist Bones Poor Circulation Raynaud’s Syndrome Kidney Problems Cushing’s Disease Hashimoto’s Disease Excess Growth Hormone Medications such as: Birth control pills, Cortisone shots or pills, some blood pressure drugs. Okay, let’s say we determine you do have carpal tunnel, what can be done? Your options include nighttime bracing, surgery, injections and of course therapy. Not many people realize therapy can be a legitimate option but it is a very good option. In fact the American Medical Association recommends conservative treatment before considering surgery. See I’m not the only one who says try therapy first! What can we do in therapy? We offer something brand new that may revolutionize the treatment of carpal tunnel. It is the Dynasplint Carpal Tunnel System. It is a device that came on the market just last year after five years of research and development. It can be placed on the affected hand and it stretches the transcarpal ligament. This is the ligament that can put pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. This non-surgical treatment can relieve symptoms without surgery. It needs to be done in conjunction with a therapy program. If it is a bad case we may need to get authorization for a device for you to use at home as well. By avoiding surgery you can minimize your risk and you can keep using your hand without taking time off for surgery. If you have numbness, tingling or pain in your hand or wrist, please give us a call. Our number is 301-759-4263 and we are open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. We can help you handle your problem. Give us a call today; you will be glad you did! Tips To Help Prevent Carpal Tunnel Try to lose some weight if overweight. Switch hands during work tasks. Handle sizes for all tools should be comfortable in the hand. Fatter pen grips can be helpful. Generally the smaller the diameter the more force is required which is not good. Your sitting elbow height should be the same as the spacer bar on your keyboard. Avoid repetitive gripping or squeezing. Avoid constant use of vibrating tools. Try wearing braces that keep the wrist straight. Learn proper stretching of the hands and arms. |
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