by Roohi

Created on: February 06, 2009

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition of the hands and wrists. The carpal tunnel is a narrow tunnel formed by the bones and tissues in the wrist. This tunnel contains the median nerve which is responsible for the sensations in your thumb, index finger and the middle finger. Repetitive motions of the hand or disorders such as osteoarthritis can lead to inflammation in the tissues in the carpal tunnel. This in turn compresses the median nerve. The result is carpal tunnel syndrome which is characterized by symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain and weakness in the hands.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a result of diseases such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, and thyroid disorders. A traumatic injury to the wrist or congenital shortening of the ligaments in the carpal tunnel can also be a cause. But often, it is found that people involved in professions which require repetitive motions of the hand and excessive pressure on the wrists, tend to get carpal tunnel syndrome. If ignored, it will get worse and cause difficulties in gripping objects.

But do these causes mean that the carpal tunnel syndrome cannot be prevented? No, because there are certain things that you can do to prevent this condition. Here are some steps that can help:

* Get treatment for diseases that cause carpal tunnel syndrome
As mentioned before, there are certain diseases that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. If you suffer from diseases such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, or thyroid disorders, consult a physician. These diseases make you prone to carpal tunnel syndrome and need to be controlled.

* Get a regular health checkup done
An annual health checkup will be able to catch any of the above mentioned diseases. Not only this, if the carpal tunnel syndrome is in its early stages, a health checkup will be able to identify it right in time.

* Take frequent breaks while working
If you want to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and you are in a profession which requires excessive use of your hands and wrists, take frequent breaks. Typing or playing musical instruments are two such professions which lead to excess pressure on the hands and the wrists. Take a five minute break every hour to relax your hands, wrists and arms.

* Use caution while working
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs due to excessive pressure on your wrists and hands. So while working, make sure that your wrists are straight and relaxed. Do not bend or twist your wrists too much. Avoid extending your hands for long periods of time. If you are typing, make sure that your forearms are level with the keyboard. This will help you avoid flexing your wrists while you are typing.

* Exercise every few hours
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be prevented if you take frequent breaks and exercise your wrists every few hours. A simple exercise which can be done anytime to relax your wrists is to extend your arms in front and just move your wrists in a circular motion. Move your wrists in a circular motion in both the directions and do this about ten times each.

The first symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are numbness and tingling in the thumb, index finger and middle finger. Consult a physician as soon as you experience these symptoms. Early identification can help in effective treatment of this condition with the help of anti-inflammatory medications and wrist braces and also help you avoid surgery.

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