What is Carpal Tunnel?
Carpel Tunnel is a painful, disabling injury of the thumb, first three fingers, and palm. Compression of the medial nerve in your wrist and hand. The compression is created by the bones, tendons, and ligaments in the carpal tunnel, which is a small passage in your wrist.
Causes:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Under active thyroid
- Diabetes
- Stress injuries
- Repetitive motions for long periods of time
- Computer users
- Musicians
- Sports players
- Running machinery
- Writing
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Symptoms:
- Tingling/numbness in the hand, wrist, thumb, and first three fingers
- Burning/itching in the palm of your hand
- Shooting pains in the forearm/wrist
- Difficulty with clenching your fist
- Difficulty picking up objects especially small ones and/or dropping them
Who is at risk?
- Women are more likely than men, the carpal tunnel is smaller in women
- The dominant hand is affected first due to overuse
- Diabetes and metabolic disorders
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Treatments:
- Should see a physician
- Look for underlying causes
- Rest hand for two weeks
- Immobilize with splint
- Avoid twisting/turning
- Apply cool packs
- Medications
- Occupational or Physical Therapy
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At OSPTI we offer:
- Strengthening/stretching exercises
- Positioning devices, such as soft splints or braces
- Ultrasound, e-stim, soft tissue massage, heat/ice packs, paraffin, these are done to decrease pain, decrease edema, increase circulation and increase mobility
- The therapists will also educate and instruct you on a home program to assist with meeting your goals
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