Curing What Ails Your Aching Hand

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the carpal tunnel is actually a thin tunnel-shaped nerve in your wrist. It is formed by the carpal bones, whose top layer is formed out of ligament. Thumb and finger tendons as well as the central nerve in your forearm all pass through this “tunnel.” Increasing the strain on this centrally located nerve has been shown to cause carpal tunnel syndrome, but it is also closely connected to thyroid disease and diabetes.

Other factors such as repetitious hand and/or wrist movement, family history, the use of your hand over time, hormone changes during menopause or pregnancy, and even arthritis have been suspected causes of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The AAOS describes it best, as “an electric-like shocking feeling in the fingers or hand.” If your hands feel as if they’ve been gradually numb, in pain, or have had a tingling sensation in the region of your thumb you could have carpal tunnel syndrome.

While this condition affects one of the body’s most used parts, carpal tunnel has the tendency to show up when you are least active. Simply stretching your fingers and wrist while at the office or relaxing at home, can be great everyday pain relievers.

If you think that you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, try wearing a splint when you sleep for a few weeks. If you don’t feel relief or if the pain is interfering with your activities of daily living, the Crozer-Keystone Human Motion Institute can help. Surgery is not always needed—your pain can be controlled simply through occupational and physical therapy, splinting, strength and motion exercises, or medication. Crozer-Keystone hand specialists can tailor a treatment specifically to your needs.

Crozer-Keystone Human Motion Institute offers physical and occupational hand therapy at three of its Outpatient Centers for Therapy and Sports Medicine: locations at Crozer, the Springfield Healthplex®, and Taylor Made Physical Therapy.

For more information or to schedule a prompt appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon, call 1-877-CK-MOTION (1-877-256-6846) or visit http://ckhshmi.crozer.org.