Such an injury is called a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). This over-use results in tendonitis (strain in the tendons) in the wrist, thumbs or shoulder. It occurs most commonly in people who work with their hands all day long, such as cradling a phone or typing on a keyboard. This injury is caused due to over-use of the wrist. Nowadays, this condition is usually associated with the use of computers, and is the most familiar form of computer-related injury (CRI). Strangely, the symptoms of CTS are usually seen in the middle of the night, with symptoms on both the wrists or bilaterally. And finally, lipomas and ganglions (seen as lumps on the wrist) can also pressure the nerve from the outside leading to CTS. CTS has also been seen in patients who have used medicines like phenytoin (for epilepsy) and oral contraceptive pills for an extended period. This syndrome is often a consequence of injury to the wrist and conditions that pressure the median nerve at the wrist like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, obesity, and even pregnancy. In such cases, CTS is said to be idiopathic in origin. What causes nerve compression is more often than not impossible to determine. Sometimes the pain may extend to the forearm and beyond the wrist. Later, as the disease progresses, a patient might notice a weakened grip in the affected hand and fingers along with a loss of muscle mass on the outer side of the hand. The median nerve supplies structures on the outer half of the hand - this includes the thumb, index, middle finger and the outer half of the ring finger. Someone suffering from CTS will experience pain, numbness and paraesthesia (a pins-and-needles sensation) in the affected hand and the areas supplied by the median nerve. Stage 5: Reduction in muscle mass or paralysis of the muscles at the base of the thumb, resulting in reduced movement of the thumb. Stage 4: Degeneration or weakness of the muscles at the base of the thumb. Stage 3: Deficits in sensation in areas innervated by the median nerve. Stage 2: Daytime paraesthesia after extended or repetitive movements. Stage1: Nocturnal paraesthesia is experienced in any part of the hand supplied by the median nerve. The five stages of severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome revolve around paraesthesia complaints (an abnormal tingling sensation), sensory deficits, loss of sensations, weakness of the thumb muscles. Pins and needles in feet – causes and remedies.12 tips to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and RSI if you have a desk job.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |