What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition caused by a narrowing of the carpal tunnel causing a compression of the structures within the tunnel, including the median nerve. This compression of the median nerve is what causes the uncomfortable symptoms of tingling, numbness and pain.

The median nerve is the nerve that travels down the arm into the hand. With CTS, the nerve is squeezed as it passes through the narrow path (or tunnel) at the wrist. To enter the hand, the median nerve must pass through the narrow opening at the wrist joint. On one side of the wrist joint are bones, and on the other is a strong ligament, flexor retinaculum, that runs across the wrist. The ligament and the bones form a firm channel that has little ability to expand.

The pressure on the wrist can cause the fingers and thumb to feel tingly and numb. They may even feel paralyzed. The symptoms will most likely begin as mild, increase to moderate and eventually become severe if left untreated. Mild symptoms will most likely begin with tingling and numbness in one or more than one of the tips of your fingers. This may be accompanied by pain around the wrist area and interruption in sleep. Symptoms can increase to include the whole hand, numbness for an increased amount of time, and more severe pain.

Carpal tunnel affects 4 – 10 million Americans and is usually very treatable. Middle-aged to older individuals are more likely to develop the syndrome than younger persons, and females three times more frequently than males. American College of Rheumatology

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME TREATMENT

Carpal Tunnel Surgery:

  • Recovery may take 3 or more months, disabling yourself from using your hand for work.
  • Risk of damaging the median nerve or other tissues.
  • Painful scar tissue may occur as a result of open surgery.
  • Cost for surgery may vary from $2000 to $12000.
  • 85% of people relapse even after a successful surgery.

CTRAC Treatment

  • Up to 90% decrease in symptoms after 2 weeks of treatment.
  • Just 5 minutes, 3 times a day from the confort of your home.
  • No surgery or other invasive treatments are required.
  • Results in just 4 weeks.
  • Continue going to work while treating yourself with your C TRAC.

What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Mechanical problems in the wrist joint.
  • Different kinds of arthritis that cause the wrists to swell can also cause CTS.
  • Repeated movements and heavy use of the hand and wrist may play a role. Some people who have jobs or hobbies that make them use their hands and wrists in this way may be at greater risk of getting CTS.
  • Work stress on hands.
  • People with diabetes may get CTS.
  • There may be a link between CTS and hormones. Some women get CTS after a change in certain hormones, such as during pregnancy.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

  • Pain, tingling and numbness in the hands and fingers.

  • The symptoms of CTS are constantly annoying, cause you to wake up at night, and are usually worse in the morning.

  • Some daily activities become much more difficult and can prevent you from being productive.

  • Loss of coordination in affected hand can cause you to drop everything, pain while writing, pain while typing, and pain when gripping things with your hand.

If you think you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or you are presenting some of these symptoms contact you physician right away to get the correct diagnosis.