Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Concerns

If you were in the workforce in the early 90's you probably started hearing a new medical term. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or just plain carpal tunnel. Some feel that the new syndrome has reached epidemic status as millions of people claim to have it.

With all the attention given to this painful problem over the past 15 years a solution to the problem is still not available for all cases. The syndrome is fairly easily diagnosed. Some confusion exists as the degree of discomfort will vary between individual and the length of time the condition has existed. At times wrist tendonitis is confused with carpal pain.

*What is carpal tunnel?

It is at the base of the hand and more on the hand side than on the wrist. There is a protective covering over the nerves, muscles, tendons and blood vessels feeding the hand. They are all in close proximity to each other as they neck down passing through the tunnel

*What causes it?

Any damage to the carpal area causes friction in the tunnel and inflammation. This damage can be from holding the hand in a fixed position for extended periods of time. If the hand is in a cramped position while sleeping nerve irritation may result which is then made worse by repetitive stressing. A bruise or other injury to the base of the hand could also cause the initial irritation.

*Some symptoms are

Some of the symptoms include numbness, tingling, the pins and needles sensation and loss of strength. In advanced cases there can be severe pain in the base of the hand.

*Can symptoms be reduced or eliminated?

If the pain is excruciating, muscle relaxers and pain relief medicine can be a short term help. They will do nothing to eliminate the problem. The problem is most often caused by muscle imbalance. Stretching and flexing the muscles and tendons in the carpal area will often provide relief. In an advanced case this can be very difficult to do. Once a nerve is inflamed it takes a long time to reduce the inflammation and provide healing.

If the irritation occurs regularly as in the hand being in an uncomfortable position while sleeping, a hand brace used only at night can bring about relief.

Your lifestyle can be an important factor. Lack of exercise and a poor diet are some of the factors as well as smoking and excessive drinking. A run down body aids many ailments.

Carpal tunnel surgery is very popular. Many doctors have recommended surgery rather than try some of the techniques available. Surgery is expensive and the convalescent time in some cases is quite long. Statistics provide the following information: 70% of the carpal tunnel operations are successful. 30% are not. Recovery times for an unsuccessful operation can be very long if the full use of the wrist hand relationship is ever restored.

Consult a qualified health care provider, but, look for other ways to address the problem.

People are finding relief from the pain and discomfort without surgery. Consult your health care provider for an alternative. A chiropractor as may be a good contact as they understand muscle imbalance.

Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Yourself

 

What if you have carpal tunnel syndrome? Most medical professionals will say there is no non-invasive remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

Doctors usually treat the symptoms, but not the source of the problem.

 

Please read this carefully. The real reason you have carpal tunnel syndrome is because of muscle imbalance in your forearms.  Here is where the majority of medical professionals fail to make the connection.

 

Let me explain. The muscles in the forearm move the wrist and fingers. When you open and close your hand, that motion is actually being done by the forearm muscles.

 

You can prove this for yourself by gripping different parts of your forearm as you move your fingers and hand around.  Feel what the muscles are doing.

 

Nearly all of the muscles that are used in computing, using a mouse, playing the guitar or piano, and just about everything done with your hands, are forearm muscles. 

 

When you lift weights with a closed fist, you are actually gripping using the forearm muscles.  This is so no matter what group of muscles you are trying to strengthen.

 

In order sucessfully treat carpal tunnel syndrome yourself, here is what you need to know:

 

The flexor muscles are the ones on the front side of the forearm. These muscles close the fingers and wrist.  The extensor muscles on the backside of the arm, pull the fingers and the wrist backward. 

 

When you work (and play) the flexors are doing much more work than the extensors.  The extensor muscles become relatively weaker because they do not have to push anything.

 

The flexor muscles get shorter and thicker.  The tendons of the flexor muscles also become shorter and thicker  Tendons attach muscle to bone.

 

The tendons that run from the forearms to the fingers are long and skinny.  Nine flexor tendons go through the carpal tunnel. 

 

The shortened flexor muscles pull the wrist forward, decreasing the size of the carpal tunnel.  The thicker tendons now take up more space in the carpal tunnel.

 

This further leads to more inflammation and irritation.  And the median nerve gets pinched more and more.

 

The reason night splints help is that they maintain the hand in a neutral position when sleeping. Thus they keep the carpal tunnel open.

 

But they do not fix muscle imbalance. They aren't curing carpal tunnel syndrome. You can sleep better but your carpal tunnel syndrome is going to get worse unless you do something to reverse your situation.

 

Here's an experiment for you.  Hold your hands in a neutral position.  By that I mean that the back of your hand is in a straight line with the back of the forearm.  Now keeping your hands in the neutral position, bring them down to your sides.  Try forgetting about your hands for a couple minutes. 

 

If it takes effort to keep your hands in a neutral position, they are out of balance. If your muscles are balanced they would hold your hand in a neutral position without any effort on your part.

 

The remedy is to loosen and lengthen the flexor muscles.  Most programs and physical therapists use stretches.  While these can work eventually, it requires a lot of persistence.  Some people will quit if they don't get speedy results. 

 

When I was having hand problems, doing stretches didn't work for me.

 

What did work were targeted self-massage techniques.  I developed methods that did not require using my overworked hands.

 

They are more effective than stretches.  This is because, when you stretch a muscle, the portions of the muscle that are "normal" will stretch the easiest.  Those portions that are stuck in contraction or have adhesions (muscle cells stuck to each other) will resist the stretch.  So it takes more persistence to get to them. 

 

Also if there are tears in the tendons, stretching is not a good idea.

 

Go to:

http://goo.gl/YCy50

to learn more about effective and specific techniques that do not require using your hands.  Nor do you need special equipment.  The majority of massage therapists haven't studied this.  You can work more effectively on yourself.  It is easy when you know how. Working on your forearms and tendons a few minutes at a time, a couple times a day will do you more good, and save you tons of money and time.

 

The reasons these work so incredibly because you directly loosen the tightness in the tendons and muscles, increase the blood supply to them, directly unstick muscle fibers that have stuck together, as well as unstick muscle cells that are stuck in contraction.

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A Secondary Effect

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Anliker,_LMT]Jeff Anliker, LMT

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome to develop? Although there are many professional opinions out there regarding the subject, most do not provide an accurate description of how carpal tunnel syndrome actually occurs.

What is agreed upon is the fact that the flexor tendons and median nerve are operating in a much smaller space than they were prior to the onset of symptoms. Many professionals state that it is the swelling of the involved tissues that is diminishing the space and others say that is caused by a muscle imbalance between the flexor and extensor muscles that is causing the carpal bones to shift into the carpal tunnel, making the carpal tunnel much smaller.

After much research, my opinion is that the swelling is a "secondary effect" of the nine flexor tendons and median nerve having to glide through the carpal tunnel which has decreased in size due to a muscle imbalance*.

How does the carpal tunnel decrease in size? The carpal tunnel decreases in size because the flexor muscles that 'close' the hands are exercised on a daily basis with virtually every activity we perform, and they become stronger, shorter and tighter than the extensor muscles that 'open' the hands, thus causing the carpal bones to shift inward, collapsing the carpal tunnel and making it smaller. As the tendons and median nerve slide back and forth in the much smaller space, friction between the tissues occurs.

What does friction in the carpal tunnel cause? Friction between flexor tendons and median nerve within the carpal tunnel causes inflammation and swelling, which puts pressure on the median nerve, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome. This is the reason that surgeons sever the carpal ligament, making more room for the flexor tendons and median nerve to move around in. If the carpal tunnel is returned back to its original size, prior to onset of symptoms, the friction and swelling is eliminated and the symptoms disappear.

Continually performing repetitive wrist and finger flexion while symptoms are already present will ultimately aggravate the existing condition even more and lead to possible irreversible damage of the flexor tendons, blood vessels and median nerve within the carpal tunnel.

How can carpal tunnel syndrome be eliminated? By stretching and lengthening the overly restrictive flexor muscles that 'close' the hands and strengthening and shortening the extensor muscles that 'open' the hands, the carpal tunnel can return to its normal size, decreasing impingement of the tendons and median nerve, which also eliminates friction and causes the carpal tunnel symptoms to disappear.

Now is the time to take the steps to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome or rehabilitate an existing injury by starting a stretch / exercise program for your hands. Speak with your doctor or contact a certified therapist today to implement a good stretch and exercise program to keep you strong, healthy and injury-free!

*REFERENCE MATERIALS:

"If certain muscle groups are underused, opposing muscle groups will be overused. Muscles in either a lengthened or shortened position will be at a mechanical disadvantage and weak. The overused group will hypertrophy, and the underused group will continue to be weak. This combination produces a self perpetuating condition that maintains the abnormal posture and muscle imbalance." Philip E. Higgs, M.D. and Susan E. Mackinnon, M.D. Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Annu. Rev. Med. 1995. 46:1-16

"Muscle balance must be restored with specific exercises. Otherwise, the already strong and overused muscles get stronger, and the weak and underused muscles remain weak. Individuals get good at using the overused muscles and must be trained specifically to recruit and strengthen the weak underused muscles." Philip E. Higgs, M.D. and Susan E. Mackinnon, M.D. Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Annu. Rev. Med. 1995. 46:1-16

"All of the extrinsic hand muscles become involved in a power grip, in proportion to the strength of the grip."........ "Strong agonist-antagonist interactions are needed between the flexors and extensors of the hand and fingers to produce forceful hand-grip. Powerful flexion of the distal phalanges requires strong activity also of the finger extensors." Janet G. Travell, M.D. and David G. Simons, M.D. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction-The Trigger Point Manual. Volume1 Upper Extremities, Ch:35, pg. 501. Copyright 1983.

Jeff Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and Inventor of Therapeutic Exercise Products that are utilized by Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the world for the prevention and rehabilitation of repetitive strain injuries. [http://www.repetitive-strain.com]repetitive-strain.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome---A-Secondary-Effect&id=109775] Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A Secondary Effect

The Treatments of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - 5 Effective Methods - Learn Them Now!

The Treatments of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - 5 Effective Methods - Learn Them Now!
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carine_Woodman]Carine Woodman

Many people are now searching for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome treatments. There is also much concern on the diagnosis of the symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Most of these concerns originated from office workers, pianists, drummers, writers and massage therapists, i.e people who utilize their hands and wrists for long periods of time. The symptoms include a sensation of pain or numbness in the hands and wrists, or in most cases, extends to the fingers and its finger tips.

TREATING THROUGH SURGERY

Doctors nowadays advices patients to undergo surgery for treatment of this Syndrome. A surgery of this nature involves opening the carpal tunnel of the wrist and cutting off the transverse carpal ligament, so as to release the pressure on the median nerve. This treatment way is quick, and patients are not required to stay at the hospital. The main concern of many patients is on the subsequent recovery which takes place. It would take at least 2 months to recover completely after surgery. There are also concerns on the scars left by surgery as the marks do not go away and would need much more care for recovery. Patients are also advised to wear splints for a few weeks. In normal circumstances, surgery is advised for serious cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

CARPAL TUNNEL DRUGS AND INJECTION

There are many over the counter drug prescriptions to help relieve the pain caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Among the more popular ones are anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by doctors for pain-relief. However, be careful on drugs prescription, as there might be long term effects to this type of treatment. Although the pain might be temporarily relieved, in the long run, the root of the symptoms are not completely eliminated. Therefore, it is better to use the drugs sparingly. On other times, doctors suggest injection with a corticosteroid for pain relief. This may be because oral prescriptions are not as effective as injections in reducing inflammation. Choosing oral or injection depends on the budget of the patient, as well as the advise from the doctor. Normally, injections cost more.

PLAN YOUR ACTIVITIES WELL

The main cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is coming from the activity performed by the patient throughout the years. For most examples, it is actually a fact that most Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients are people who utilize their hands and wrists with a higher number of times than others. Does that mean that you need to stop using your hands? Not if you agree to it. The main focus lies in a change of the activities, or a change of frequency in those activities that uses the hands and wrists the most. Set aside short periods of resting times before continuing the flow of activities performed. For example, a drummer might want to stop for 5 to 10 minutes before continuing his performance. Another example would be a typist, who could rest her hands by going to the rest room for a hand wash on an hourly basis, to release the muscles from typing activities.

TAKE CARE OF THE DIET

A well planned diet is stressed to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients. "We are what we eat" definitely has its origin in the root cause of any disease. When the body has a symptom, it can be effectively linked to the diet of the patient. in the case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the position of the nerve is static, and is overworked, causing the symptoms of numbness and tingling pain. A good suggestion for pain relief is to drink lots of water to cleanse the nerves. A well planned diet should also be non-toxin in nature, i.e less meat, more green leafy vegetables (preferably organic) and plenty of fruits above the ground. Salts and seasoning or any processed flavoring should be reduced, or replaced with other better alternatives like natural seasonings. The main aim is to cleanse the body of toxin deposits, and improve the digestion, effectively reducing over working on the nerves of the body system.

WRIST EXERCISES

This method might be new to normal people, but people who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome would know that this is so far the best method of prevention and treatment. Patients who undergo surgery are frequently advised to exercise their wrists lightly post-surgery (after 2 months). This is to let our hand muscles to go back to the original state. Of course, this should be consistent with a regular exercise structure. There are many people who suffer Carpal Tunnel symptoms who tell of a full recovery after this exercise, joining it with other forms of exercise like jogging, yoga, taichi, reiki etc.

In summary, do not be afraid to try out the many treatment methods or seek further advice on the effects of each treatment solution. The key is not to delay. In fact, 80% of people who experience Carpal Tunnel symptoms successfully cured those symptoms without going for surgery or injections! Take full responsibility for your health today, and take early action to treat those symptoms, and be always ready to change your work-life habits and exercise patterns if you want to get rid of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome permanently.

Many Carpal Tunnel Syndrome sufferers managed to get rid of their symptoms permanently through a proper diet and exercise regime, especially for their wrists. There is actually a proven [http://www.squidoo.com/methods-of-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-treatment]methods of carpal tunnel syndrome treatment without surgery or drugs. Go to [http://carpal-tunnel-master.com]Carpal-Tunnel-Master.com and learn of a true story on a former chronic sufferer who cured her Carpal Tunnel symptoms permanently, through various wrists exercises, and simple massage techniques.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Treatments-of-Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome---5-Effective-Methods---Learn-Them-Now!&id=4569652] The Treatments of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - 5 Effective Methods - Learn Them Now!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Is Surgery the Only Answer For Carpal Tunnel Pain and Numbness?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Is Surgery the Only Answer For Carpal Tunnel Pain and Numbness?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Merrow]Kathryn Merrow

How badly does your carpal tunnel syndrome bother you?

Do you wake up during the night with tingling, pain or numbness in your hands?  Do your symptoms (tingling, pain and numbness) bother you during the day?  Do your symptoms make it hard for you to do your work or to do the things that you enjoy?

If that is the situation that you are in, you probably have already talked to your doctor about relief for your carpal tunnel syndrome.  Perhaps that conversation included the possibility of carpal tunnel surgery.

When people hurt really badly, they can feel desperate.  Desperate people will go to almost any measures in order to feel good.

And, sometimes carpal tunnel surgery is the only answer.

There are situations when nothing else can eliminate the pain, numbness and tingling of carpal tunnel syndrome.  Those situations might include injury or damage to the wrist, where the carpal tunnel is located.  Those situations might also include having a genetically small carpal tunnel, which is rare.

Here's the reason to have carpal tunnel surgery.  The carpal tunnel is a small area in your wrist.  There are bones on three sides and tough tissue on the fourth side.  That does not leave much room for the nerves that run through your carpal tunnel.  If something causes pressure on the median nerve, then it causes the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Pressure on the other nerve tissue that runs through your carpal tunnel will also cause pain or numbness sensations in different parts of your fingers and hand.

If pressure on the nerves continues long enough, there is the possibility of permanent nerve damage. Nerves do not like being pressed on for long periods of time.

There may be other ways to take the pressure off the nerves which run through your carpal tunnel.  Carpal tunnel surgery should be a last resort.

If you go to a conservative doctor, he or she may offer to send you to physical therapy first.  He may suggest anti-inflammatories, therapeutic massage, a brace or other modalities. That doctor knows that if you take the pressure off the structures inside the carpal tunnel, you will allow natural healing to take its course.

However, if you go to a surgeon for an opinion, his first offer will most likely be carpal tunnel surgery.  That's what he was trained in and that's what he does best.  It seems that most surgeons generally look for a reason to operate.  If you're going for an opinion, don't go to a surgeon first.

At any rate, your doctor is looking for a way to help prevent permanent nerve damage in your carpal tunnel.  She may be able to do that with conservative measures or she may feel that you need surgery.

When you talk with your doctor about carpal tunnel surgery, listen carefully, take notes and ask good questions.

Ask:


Why is your doctor proposing the surgery?
What does he believe caused your carpal tunnel symptoms?  (Note: the usual cause is soft tissue and muscle.)
What does he expects the outcome to be?
How long does he expect you will have benefit?  (If he doesn't get the right cause, the symptoms will come back.)
How long will your recovery be?
Is there anything else he thinks you should try before agreeing to carpal tunnel surgery?
How many carpal tunnel surgeries has he done before?


You may have other questions that you would like to have answers for, also.

Remember, your doctor is a service provider for you.  Her job is to help you eliminate your carpal tunnel pain and make good decisions about your treatment.  When she answers your questions that will make your decision easier.

An informed patient is more likely to make a good decision.

The more information you have about the causes of your pain and ways to help carpal tunnel syndrome, the better your chances of a good recovery.

Now I'd like to invite you to discover more ways to relieve your carpal tunnel discomfort naturally at http://www.CarpalTunnelPainReliefNow.com Begin your journey to becoming pain-free. Let me, Kathryn Merrow, The Pain Relief Coach, be your helpful guide to a pain-free life.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome---Is-Surgery-the-Only-Answer-For-Carpal-Tunnel-Pain-and-Numbness?&id=1766485] Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Is Surgery the Only Answer For Carpal Tunnel Pain and Numbness?

Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Here's Info You Need

Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Here's Info You Need
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Don_Pittwood]Don Pittwood

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?


If you are experiencing pain in your wrist, or numbness or a tingling sensation in your fingers, it's quite possible you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.


Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a sometimes painful, always annoying, condition of the hand, usually brought about by some type of repetitive activity like typing or hammering.  Other factors can also contribute to the condition, such as arthritis, diabetes, thyroid problems, menopause, pregnancy and poor posture.


Where Is My Carpal Tunnel?


The Carpal Tunnel is a pass way through the bones and ligaments in your wrist, which protects the main nerve and the tendons that operate your fingers.  When even small blows to the fingers or to the entire hand are repeated often, inflammation can set in and cause the lining of the tunnel to swell.  This puts pressure on the nerve, which causes pain, tingling, numbness or some combination of all three.


What Can I Do To Eliminate My Carpal Tunnel Problem?


If your job requires repetitive hand actions that bring on any of the above symptoms of Carpal Tunnel, the best course of action would be to seek a new job that doesn't require so much use of your hands.  If this is not possible or practical, try to alter your job routine to permit frequent periods of relaxation and avoid using your hands in awkward or strained positions if possible.


Continued agitation of a Carpal Tunnel condition without treatment can result in permanent damage to nerves and muscles.


If your source of agitation to your hands and wrists happens to be related to typing on a computer, there is a neat little utility you can install that will eliminate the need for typing any data more than once, thus reducing the typing you have to do. Please see the resource box below for more about this.


What Are My Options For Treating Carpal Tunnel Problems?


Treatment options include wearing a wrist sprint at night to prevent further damage while you sleep and also during the day, if it doesn't make it impossible to do your work.


According to Bottom Line's book, "Health Breakthroughs, 2007," Carpal Tunnel problems related to inflammation--the most likely cause--can be overcome by taking a daily combination of vitamin B6 and natural thyroid hormone.  The book recommends 250 milligrams of B6.  You can get this over the counter, but you will need a prescription for the thyroid hormone.  This combination should clear up your Carpal Tunnel condition in six to twelve weeks if inflammation is the cause, and you can take it up to six months to prevent a reoccurrence.


A physical therapist has written a well illustrated ebook detailing exercises you can do at home that he has found in the course of his practice to greatly reduce the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel in most of his clients that have the problem.  For information on this, please see the resource box below.  I have read the book and can attest to the fact that it offers a lot of good information for anyone suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.


Two doctors have invented and patented a device which they claim will relieve most Carpal Tunnel problems without surgery or other treatments.  This is a pneumatic device that clamps around your wrist much like a blood pressure cuff and somehow deforms your carpal tunnel to provide more room for the median nerve, which is causing your problem by being confined in too little space.


Some Carpal Tunnel problems can only be taken care of by surgery, but this should be a last resort after you have exhausted all non-surgical treatments.  According to the Mayo Clinic, surveys reveal that about 70% of people who have had surgery for Carpal Tunnel experience great improvement, but, if you happen to be one of the 30% who don't do as well, it might take months to get back full use of your hand, and some numbness, pain, etc. may persist long after surgery.


If surgery proves to be your only option, however, before scheduling the usual open wrist kind of surgery, there is a new, much less invasive surgical technique that requires only two tiny incisions and restores your hand to full use in only about a week. Please see the resource box below for more information about this.


Pain Killers Work For Carpal Tunnel, But Don't Correct The Problem


Pain killers may help you live easier with a Carpal Tunnel condition, but they won't do anything to solve the underlying problem that caused the pain.  Your doctor will probably recommend cortisone shots for pain, but there are some new pain killers he or she may not know about, which you can apply externally.  Please see the resource box below for information about two of these.  I hope the above information on carpal tunnel syndrome will help you cope with what can be a really miserable and debilitating condition.

To get a free video of hand excersises, information about the Carpal Tunnel ebook, the typing utility, the two doctors' invention, the new surgical technique, two new pain killers and a surprise bonus, please visit: http://woodyp4.blogspot.com/

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Have-Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome?-Heres-Info-You-Need&id=1494620] Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Here's Info You Need

Carpal Tunnel & Computers

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Anliker]Jeff Anliker

While there are a lot of rumors about carpal tunnel syndrome, it is hard to find a definitive answer on what, if any, actual link there is between the development of carpal tunnel syndrome and the use of computers. 

Does computer use increase one's chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?  If you do a "search" on the internet, you can find several stories that say no, and just as many that say yes . . . sometimes even from the same source!  While there are still some conflicting beliefs on how the use of computers affects carpal tunnel syndrome, the problem seems to be more prevalent than ever before.  This article will help to show the correlation between extensive computer use and carpal tunnel syndrome.

There is a general belief that working for extended periods of time using a computer will lead to an increase in carpal tunnel syndrome, and that jobs such as data entry lead to higher risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.  Since carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by constant repetitive or static motion of the hands and wrists, logically this would make sense.  There are several studies that initially suggested that the repetitive motion and static flexion that is involved when using a computer or playing video games may cause carpal tunnel.  Though this is not conclusively proven in studies, what is proven is that any task that involves excessive duration, repetition and force does in fact cause carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by anything that involves excessive unidirectional movement patterns that require too much force, duration and repetition, as the overused muscles begin to compress the carpal tunnel and the median nerve within.  The tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel (a small area between the carpal bones  and the transverse carpal ligament in the wrist) can become swollen from doing the same movement over and over, like typing on a computer or playing video games or a musical instrument for long periods of time.  Long time use of a computer often leads to writer's cramp, which some argue is an early onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Some people might think that carpal tunnel syndrome is a new condition of the information technology age, born from long hours of computer keyboarding, but carpal tunnel is not new, it just seems to appear more often because the nature of work has changed. More jobs are highly specialized and require the overuse of only a small number of muscles repeatedly, leading to a muscle imbalance.  If one muscle group is overused, then the opposing muscle group must be underused.  It is basic common sense.  Because of the underlying assumption that computer use contributes to carpal tunnel syndrome, concern from the government and employers continues to grow.  Ironically, studies out of the Mayo Clinic released by the government seem to actually show that using a computer does not increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. (Of course many of these studies are not taking in the appropriate information or using the correct protocols, while others have a biased agenda.) 

There are arguments over why this is.  The test showed that those who worked a long period of time every day with computers had the same percentage of people develop carpal tunnel syndrome as everyone else.   One of the suggestions for the reasoning is that the continued use of computers would only affect people who did not practice appropriate form.  People who are employed to work with computers are generally better trained in how to type from home row, how to keep their wrists straight, and how to use good posture.  All three of these factors will help to decrease instances of carpal tunnel syndrome, which in turn can help keep the number of injuries down. 

On the other side of the equation, computer use by individuals who hold their wrists and fingers wrong, and put pressure on their hands may actually cause the individuals to get carpal tunnel from using the computer constantly.  This may be why the belief that computer use causes carpal tunnel syndrome remains strong, even when testing suggests otherwise.  Individuals trained in how to properly use a computer will have all the exercises and appropriate postures down, and hence not experience the same injuries and muscle imbalances as say someone who does not use appropriate form or perform muscle balancing exercises and stretches.

While the studies suggest that extensive use of a computer does not contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, even that piece of information should come with its own caveat, that being that proper use of a computer appears to not increase the chances of carpal tunnel, but you need to learn to use proper posture and know the correct stretches and exercises to perform because excessive use of the computer without proper hand positions leads to imbalances in the hands, wrists, forearms and shoulders that can contribute to the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

JeffP. Anliker and BSI Staff - Includes Therapists, Inventors and Researchers that work together to provide information to Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the world for the treatment of muscle imbalances affecting the upper extremity. [http://www.repetitive-strain.com]Balance Systems, Inc.

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Carpal Tunnel Or Wrist Tendonitis - How Can You Tell the Difference?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Tucker]Joshua Tucker

How do you tell the difference between Carpal Tunnel and Wrist Tendonitis?

The fact is, these two issues are commonly confused and misdiagnosed. Here are some important factors to take into account when trying to figure out what is causing your pain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a grouping of the symptoms of wrist pain, numbness, muscle weakness, shooting pain, and reduced range of motion.   CTS consists of a pattern of increasing tightness and pain in the forearms and wrist and hand, the whole arm really.

Tendonitis of the Wrist, interestingly enough, can cause all the same symptoms. And you can have tendonitis on the tendons on the front side of your hand/wrist, the back side of your hand/wrist, or both. This is mostly caused by...a pattern of increasing tightness and pain in the forearms and wrist and hand, the whole arm really.

See any similarities?

Oh, and, for the record, you can have Carpal Tunnel -and- Wrist Tendinitis at the same time.  No wonder it can be confusing.

Your wrist hurts. Why? Let's take a look.  There are some things to look for to help find the difference between one or the other.

Search around and feel along the tendons from each forearm muscle to where it turns to tendon, to where tendon connects to hand bones.

If you  find a hot spot, a very sharp, painful spot on the tendon, that is Tendonitis.


 If you have pain and numbness but no hot spot, that points to a Carpal Tunnel dynamic.
   If you have pain and numbness and a hot spot on the palm side of your wrist, that points to Wrist Tendonitis, which is causing muscle and connective tissue to constrict and possibly cutting off nerve supply to the hand.
  If you have pain and numbness and a hot spot on the back-of-the-hand side of your wrist, that points to having both (but I find it usually means tendonitis that is causing the symptoms)
  If you don't have numbness, that points to tendonitis.


Why is it important to know the correct label for the source of your pain? Well, wouldn't you feel silly if you went through all the trauma and trouble of getting carpal tunnel Surgery, only to find out later that you really just had tendonitis of the wrist. Oops.

Another important thing to know, is that both CTS and wrist tendinitis share the same dynamic. They both are affected by repetitive motion, both share a pattern of getting tighter and tighter, getting inflammation, and getting more and more painful.

It is also important to know the RIGHT way to make it better, and to know that you must understand WHY you are hurting. That's why it is important to know what exactly you are suffering from.

If you are ready to Eliminate your Carpal Tunnel, get The [http://www.tendonitisexpert.com/carpal-tunnel-treatment-that-works.html]Carpal Tunnel Treatment That Works

Joshua Tucker, B.A, C.M.T is The Tendonitis Expert. He educates, leads workshops, and trains individuals how to ELIMINATE their Tendonitis related issues like Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel, Plantar Fasciitis, and Wrist Tendonitis. Joshua says "When you have tried all the usual options and they have failed, it's still not to late to become pain free. It's also never too early to start."

For more of the RIGHT information about how to Eliminate your Tendonitis, no matter how bad it is or how long you've had it, visit http://www.TendonitisExpert.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Carpal-Tunnel-Or-Wrist-Tendonitis---How-Can-You-Tell-the-Difference?&id=2172649] Carpal Tunnel Or Wrist Tendonitis - How Can You Tell the Difference?