Understanding Carpal Tunnel 
Nerves are delicate structures that run throughout the course of our bodies sending and receiving signals to and from our brains helping us to make decisions and perform tasks efficiently. However, due to their location and the demand placed on them, they become very prone to injury, sometimes unknowingly. One such nerve is the median nerve. This Well known nerve passes through an opening in the wrist known as the carpal tunnel. Like other nerves, it has specific branches through the course of the hand and fingers. Damage can be done to this nerve through high exposure to vibration (i.e. using a jackhammer or lawn mower), compression (i.e. driving) or repetition (i.e. typing, using tools or assembly line work). Do you find yourself in one or more of these scenarios and perhaps experience at least mild to moderate numbness and tingling in the hands or fingers? Do you notice a decreased grip strength or pins and needles type symptoms that keep you up at night? You may be experiencing median nerve damage. Although the cases listed above add pressures to the median nerve from an outside source, research has shown that critical damage may actually present itself within the nerve itself. This disrupts the necessary abundant blood supply. This ultimately leads to increased pressure within the nerve itself and this adds to harmful sources already present around the nerve (i.e. tendons and fluid) that are tightly compacted in the wrist. A study completed in 1966 demonstrated that a majority of the patients that have carpal tunnel surgery may not need follow-up therapy. Would you believe that new research on carpal tunnel prevention is proving that patients who have therapy when they have a mild to moderate case will not need surgery? It is a matter of perspective, really. Are you the kind of person who would like to wait until you are unable to perform your job or hobby at 50% or less, and then perhaps play roulette with how your wrist and hand may react to a surgical procedure bearing a scar as a reminder of your problems? Or are you the type of person that will put health care to work for you and seek an evaluation of your symptoms upon their start before the damage is done? Give us a call today at TriState Hand, Foot and Ankle Therapy to schedule a free screening or to simply ask us about our carpal tunnel prevention program so we can help you stay off the sidelines and in the game! Call 301-759-4263 today! |
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