Camila Pantoja 8B

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

As many other teens, Im usually stuck all day to my Blackberry and
computer chatting. Therefore, my mother keeps telling me Ill suffer from Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome, but is she only trying to scare me? Scientists have been trying
to find the real causes for this syndrome, and even more, how to treat it. Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome may have several causes, symptoms and treatments.
To understand the symptoms of this syndrome its important to know what it
is. The Carpal Tunnel is made up of four carpal bones in your wrist (trapezium,
hamate, pisiform, and scaphoid), and the transverse carpal ligament that runs over
it leaving an opening. Through this tunnel passes the median nerve and flexor
tendons, which give both sensation and mobility to the first three fingers and half of
the ring finger. When the arm bones start to drift apart, pressure is put on the
carpal tunnel because the carpal ligament stretches, causing the syndrome
(Montgomery). The symptoms include numbness in the fingers affected, or the
palm of the hand, hurts to stretch the elbow, difficulties with coordination,
weakness of hands and grip, and others (A.D.A.M.). In primitive phases, if fluids
build up decreases, casual activities are ceased and other involved issues
improve, symptoms may as well improve. In chronic cases, nerve may be
damaged to the point of needing surgery, though it wouldnt return coordination or
feeling completely to hands and fingers ("Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-What
Happens"). It must be pretty painful to get this, and the over-look of the possible
results are terrifying, because its dealing with nerves and the hands, which we use
for about everything we do.
Now that you know the symptoms and understand what it is, we may
discuss the causes. First, its important to know that a cause for it may not be
found in some cases ("Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet.").Carpal Tunnel
syndrome is common in people who perform repetitive motions of the hand and
wrist, (A.D.A.M.). Also, its commonly known that the most usual cause is typing

on a computed keyboard, thought this information is written everywhere, according

to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), small
amount of data exists to prove those points, and that in fact, a study by the Mayo
Clinic in 2001 showed one may use a computer for up to seven hours without
affecting the possibilities of having the syndrome ("Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact
Sheet"). This is very controversial to other sets of information found all over the
web, but I believe that typing has nothing to do with it; even though its an old
article, the Mayo Clinics article on Carpal Tunnel Syndromes risk factors says,
There is little evidence to support extensive computer use as a risk factor for
carpal tunnel syndrome, although it may cause a different form of hand pain,
(Mayo Clinic staff). Also, its important to add to this that the cause may be a
congenital predisposition because some people have a smaller carpal tunnel than
others. Additionally, diseases like diabetes, thyroid or rheumatoid arthritis, as well
as pregnancy are linked to this syndrome ("Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet").
This all means that though repetitive actions with the wrist are believed (but not
proved) to be a cause, another whole lot of factors may be influential.
Last, its relevant to be informed on how to diagnose and treat it. Doctors
have several ways to know if you suffer of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. One way is
Tinels sign, which is that pain appears in the wrist when patting above the median
nerve. [Another sign is] Bending the wrist forward all the way for 60 seconds will
usually result in numbness, tingling, or weakness (this is called Phalen's test),
(A.D.A.M.). Other tests are electromyography, nerve conduction velocity and x-rays
to make sure its not any other problem like arthritis. (A.D.A.M.). Its pretty straight
forward a doctor to know if a patient has this syndrome, though in my opinion its
hard to know by your own if it isnt any other problem such as tendonitis. When its
in early stages its recommended that patients wear splints and put hot and cold
compresses over the wrist (A.D.A.M.). So, it must be easy to stop its advancement
if it is diagnosed and treated with those methods. Drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen,
which are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, and corticosteroid injections might help
clam down symptoms. Also, in extreme cases, carpal tunnel release may be
practiced on patients. This is a surgery in which the doctor cuts a little into the

ligament so it no longer presses on the nerve. It might or might not be successful

depending on how much time the compression has been going on and how severe
it is (A.D.A.M.). To wrap it up, there are many ways to diagnose it and if you do
early, it might be easy to alleviate symptoms (not cure it), but if it advances too
much, things might complicate on to a surgery and even not have an improvement
at all.
In conclusion, there is a lot of controversy on carpal tunnel syndromes
causes, but more factors affect rather than only typing or repetitive motions such
as texting. So, I may conclude Moms either not well informed, or she is trying to
scare me. If you might identify the symptoms you read about here, you might want
to try the Phalens test and check for the Tinels sign; go to a medical check in case
the tests produce pain. Plus, now you now how to treat it and may use this
information to your advantage!

Works Cited
A.D.A.M. "Causes, incidence, and risk factors." PubMed Health - U.S. National
Library of Medicine. Ed. David Zieve, David R. Eltz, and C. Benjamin Ma. 18
Nov. 2009. A.D.A.M., Inc. 15 Apr. 2012
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001469/>.
"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet." National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke (NINDS). Nov. 2002. 15 Apr. 2012
<http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm
>.
"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-What Happens." WebMD. 29 Oct. 2008. WebMD. 15
Apr. 2012 <http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpaltunnel-syndrome-what-happens>.
Montgomery, Kate. "Chapter 1.12: What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? A Close-Up
Look At Your Hand And Arm." End Your Carpal Tunnel Pain Without
Surgery (1998): 14. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 15 Apr. 2012.
Mayo Clinic staff. "Risk Factors." Mayo Clinic. 22 Feb. 2011. Mayo Foundation for
Medical Education and Research. 15 Apr. 2012
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/carpal-tunnelsyndrome/DS00326/DSECTION=risk-factors>.
"Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome." WebMD. 21 Oct. 2010. WebMD. 15 Apr.
2012 <http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpaltunnel-syndrome-prevention>.