Carpal Tunnal:

Carpal Tunnal is a channel in the palm side of the wrist. This narrow passage between the forearm and hand is what is known as the Carpal tunnal. The wrist bones are arranged in a semi-circle. These wrist bones are covered by tough ligament creating a passageway, which is nothing but the Carpal tunnal.

Tendons that we use to bend the fingers and wrist and the median nerve passes through the carpal tunnal. Median nerve is one of two nerves that allow sensation in the hand. It also controls some of the thumb moving muscles .

Carpal tunnal syndrome is caused when the median nerve gets compresses or trapped at the wrist. This leads to tingling, numbness and pain in the thumb and fingers. The Carpal tunnal is normally quite snug and there is just barely enough room in it for the tendons and nerves that have to pass through it.

If anything takes up extra room in the canal, things become too tight and the nerve in the canal becomes constricted or pinched. Repetitive motion activities like typing, gripping, squeezing makes t he finger flexors and finger adductor muscles to be constantly overused making them stronger, shorter and tighter than the extensor muscles.

This creates a inflamation or swelling to the carpal tunnal. This ultimately results in compression of the meadian nerve. The carpal tunnal syndrome is mostly occurs due to repetitive operation of equipments, injury, joint dislocations, fractures and joint swelling due to arthritis.

The symptoms of Carpal tunnal syndrome:

• Pain, aching, swelling, and diminished coordination of injured areas.
• Tingling, numbness or paresthesia affecting the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger.
• Loss of strength in the hands.
• Tightness, discomfort, stiffness or pain on the front side of the hands/wrists.
• Aching and stabbling pain on the entire back side of the affected area.

Treatment methods of Carpal tunnal Syndrome:

Carpal tunnal Syndrome is treated in a many ways. Carpal tunnal syndrome is treated in both surgical and non-surgical ways. It is always better to first consult a physician rather than going for a surgical way of treating the Carpal tunnal syndrome.

The conservative therapy methods other wise known as non-surgical methods of treating Carpal tunnal syndrome are like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Laser Light Therapy, Ultrasound etc. This conservative therapy is only possible in the early stages of the Carpal tunnal syndrome.

Carpal tunnal syndrome surgical treatment is to be done only after 5 years of the Conservative treatment, if there are severe symptoms are causing severe pain and if there is risk of damage of the median nerve. Some of the Carpal tunnal surgical methods are Open Release Carpal tunnal syndrome surgery, Mini open release carpal tunnal syndrome surgery, Endoscopy and the Percutaneous Balloon Carpal tunnal plastry.