Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): What You Need To Know

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is also known as median nerve dysfunction or median nerve entrapment.

The median nerve is the nerve that supplies feeling and movement to parts of the hand. When there is pressure on this nerve, symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness of the hand and fingers can occur.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or CTS, has a variety of causes and risk factors. The anatomy of your median nerve and carpal tunnel area may leave you predisposed to CTS. If you’ve experienced nerve damaging conditions, inflammatory conditions, or alterations in the balance of your body fluids (such as pregnancy or menopause), you may also be at a higher risk for developing CTS.

If you have persistent signs and symptoms suggestive of carpal tunnel syndrome, it is wise to see your doctor. If you leave the condition untreated, nerve and muscle damage can occur.

While there’s no scientific consensus that workplace factors such as computer use or tool use lead to CTS, it is still possible that such factors contribute to existing pressure on the median nerve or can worsen existing damage.

What can I do to alleviate my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

 In severe cases, doctors may recommend surgery to release pressure from the ligament that is crushing the nerve.

In the majority of cases, there are many things you can do without surgery to relieve your pain and discomfort. The Mayo Clinic cites yoga as one possible way of “reducing the pain and improving the grip strength of people with carpal tunnel syndrome.”

Massage therapy is also one method of possibly reducing or eliminating your CTS symptoms. Massage for CTS is characterized by frequent massage of the hand, the anterior musculature, the forearm flexors and the wrist. The massage therapy may also be broadened to include the shoulder and upper back.  By relieving the pressure on the nerve and increasing blood supply to the nerves, massage therapy can be very effective at reducing pain caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Ask for any of our skilled massage therapists when booking your appointment, and be sure to mention any Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms you may be experiencing. All of our therapists are qualified in addressing the needs of your condition.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

PubMed Health: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Massage for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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