Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a disorder in the hand that causes extreme pain in the carpal tunnel. The pain is felt due to pressure against the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The carpal tunnel shields vital features like the median nerves, tendons and blood vessels present in the arm. The physical therapists at Enchantment Physical Therapy have successfully treated patients with this condition using professional therapy.
Causes
Carpal Tunnel is caused by anything that triggers swelling inside the wrist such as:
- Arthritis
- Pregnancy
- Repetitive hand movements
- Trauma to the wrist
Symptoms
The patient may experience sharp pains, pins and needles, and numbness around the wrist. The patient may also experience weakness or cramping and a burning sensation. The symptoms are severer when the patient wakes up at night, grips an object tightly or even when holding up a phone.
To be sure that the patient is suffering from Carpal Tunnel, the patient is taken through a series of tests to cancel out any other conditions. It is diagnosed through ultrasounds, X-rays tests, EMG studies, nerve compression tests among other tests.
Effective treatment
The patient is advised to seek treatment as soon as symptoms appear to avoid worsening the condition. The patient is advised to seek nonsurgical therapy to help treat the disease in early stages. The physical therapy at Enchantment Physical Therapy has shown successful treatment for patients who have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Physiotherapy is a common remedy for this condition. The physical therapists in Gallup, NM will take the patient through:
- Nerve and tendon gliding exercise
- Upper limb, wrist and hand ROM strengthening exercise
- Posture and hand dexterity exercises
- Carpal bone mobilization stretching exercise
These forms of therapy are ideal for increasing movement of the wrist while reducing pain.
Prevention
The Physical therapist in Gallup, NM will recommend wrist splinting whereby the patient wears a wrist splint to hold their wrist still while asleep. To prevent the condition, it is crucial to rest one’s hands, avoid stressful activities and apply ice on swelling on the wrist.