The carpal tunnel is a passage on the inside of your wrist, surrounded by bones and ligaments. Its job is to protect the median nerve, the nerve that runs down the arm and forearm into the hand, the Carpal Tunnel can sometimes be affected by a syndrome. This syndrome is called carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when abnormal pressure is placed on the median nerve and causes reduced hand function and finger function. Sometimes people affected cannot perform simple tasks. Below we will discuss the major causes of carpal tunnel syndrome as well as its symptoms.
Causes and Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
It is known that certain conditions contribute to the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Thyroid has long been known to be one of the main causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Water retention is also shown to be a major contributor.
Repetition is a complication that can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Many people perform a specific task over and over again. If this task involves a lot of wrist flexion, or if they involve same hand movements over and over again, one can easily develop carpal tunnel syndrome. And when this happens, it would lead to severe wrist pain.
This is because when repetitive movements are made, there is a huge amount of pressure, which is located on the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are mostly found in the hands of people who perform what is called repetitive motion tasks. These involve factory work, typing, sewing, and even playing musical instruments. These people are those that rely heavily on their hands on a regular basis.
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually start very light and increase the intensity for a long period of time. The first symptom is usually seen as a quite dull pain in the wrist. Over time, the pain can become stronger and begin to move into the arms and finally feels up to the forearm, and even reach the shoulder. Inside the arm is usually part of the hand that is affected by this pain.
Below, you will find the major symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome:
• The feeling of pain in the forearm, palm or wrist.
• Increased wrist pain when you use your wrist or hand.
• You may feel weakness in your thumb.
• You may find it difficult to grasp small objects such as the steering wheel of your car or even the handle.
• The sensation you feel in your fingers, especially the thumb and middle finger will be tingling.
• You will feel more numbness at night than during the day, so strong that sometimes you wake up.
• Weakness in the hand or wrist.
• Your hands may fall asleep.
• You feel your fingers are swollen or clumsy, but no visible swelling or very little observed.
However, research has linked the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome with general problems caused by the posture of people who live and perform sedentary jobs that do not require a lot of movement.
Strengthening Exercises
These Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercises are ideal to build strength and flexibility.
Massage Treatment
These Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Massage Techniques are of great value in pain relief; circulation stimulation; dispersing blood and fluid accumulations; swelling reduction; and relaxing muscle spasms, especially when used alongside the Sinew Therapeutics liniments and soaks.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
This stage is characterized by swelling, redness, pain, and possibly a local sensation of heat, indicating inflammation. If coolness makes your pain feel better, then the Acute Stage Treatment is recommended.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The acute stage starts the moment an injury occurs and lasts until the swelling and inflammation are gone. The swelling is the result of the blockage of blood, tissue fluids and circulation in the wrist because their normal movement has been disrupted by the force of the injury. Just like cars back up behind a traffic jam, causing congestion, exhaust and overheating; blood and fluids back up behind the injured wrist, causing pain, inflammation, lumps and swelling.
The sensation of heat is due to the warming action of the blood and fluids overheating in the injured wrist as they back up and accumulate. Stiffness and decreased mobility are due to spasms in tendons and ligaments that have contracted reflexively beyond their normal range from the impact of the injury.
As ligaments and tendons stretch and tear, blood from ruptured blood vessels becomes trapped in the local tissues. As the trapped blood clots up, it sticks the tissues together creating adhesions. Adhesions cause pain, inflammation and restricted movement because the layers of tissue that used to slide smoothly across one another now adhere and snap which interferes with normal functioning. It is essential to break up clotted blood as quickly as possible to prevent adhesions and scar tissue from forming.
During the acute stage it is very important to restore normal circulation to the wrist, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, reduce swelling, and reduce the redness and heat associated with inflammation. By restoring the flow of blood, fluids, and circulation in the wrist, then pain is relieved, damaged tissues can regenerate with healthy functional tissue, and the wrist can strengthen and regain it's mobility.
ACUTE STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Apply the Sinew Herbal Ice on your wrist to reduce redness, swelling, and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to help restore normal circulation to the wrist. This first-aid treatment is used in place of ice to significantly speed up the healing process. It reduces the swelling and inflammation more effectively than ice, allowing you to more quickly regain range of motion. Acute Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.
Ice is not recommended because it does not help repair damaged tissues and keeps everything in the injured area frozen, causing the stagnation of blood and fluids and the contraction of muscles, tendons and ligaments. In Chinese sports medicine ice is not used and is considered a culprit in injuries that don’t heal well.
2. Massage your wrist with Acute Sinew Liniment to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, and stimulate circulation of blood and fluids to help cells quickly repair damaged tissues. Sinew Herbal Ice can be used in-between applications.
3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
This stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel pain, stiffness, weakness, and/or sensitivity in cold and damp weather. If heat makes your pain feel better, then the Chronic Stage Treatment is recommended.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The chronic stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel aching pain and stiffness. This is because there are still accumulations of stagnant blood and fluids in your wrist that are blocking circulation and blood supply to damaged tissues, creating residual pain, stiffness and weakness. You may actually feel hard nodules like sand in the tissue, indicating accumulation, calcification, and adhesions, which all cause pain, stiffness, and joint instability.
Your wrist may feel more sensitive to the cold and ache in cold and damp weather due to impaired circulation. When you move your wrist you may hear a clicking or popping sound from the tendons and ligaments slipping very slightly in and out of their natural alignment indicating weakness and joint instability, causing chronic pain and a cycle of reinjury. These symptoms are often the result of failure to treat the injury properly from the outset and overicing.
Increasing circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues is very important in treating chronic injuries because tendons and ligaments do not have an extensive direct supply of blood. That is why chronic injuries can be slow to heal. Increasing local circulation also prevents cold and dampness from penetrating the injured area, preventing pain and stiffness.
During the chronic stage it is very important to break up remaining accumulations of blood and fluids, and increase circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues. By increasing circulation and blood flow in the wrist, then pain and stiffness is relieved, and the tendons and ligaments can strengthen to restore stability.
CHRONIC STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Massage your wrist with Chronic Sinew Liniment to relieve pain and stiffness, strongly stimulate circulation and blood flow to damaged tissues, and promote the healing of overstretched tendons and ligaments. The Sinew Relaxing Soak can be used in-between applications.
2. Soak your wrist with the Sinew Relaxing Soak to relax muscles and tendons that are in spasm, ease joint pain and stiffness, and improve range of motion. The Sinew Relaxing Soak is particularly useful if you feel restricted mobility in your wrist. Chronic Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.
3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
