It's All in the Wrist

Continued...

Sometimes the wrist feels better after shaking out the hand. The hand may also feel clumsy because of muscle weakness resulting from the compression of the median nerve. Symptoms may be felt in one or both hands.

Pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis and some thyroid conditions can increase your risk of developing this nerve-compression syndrome.

If you're active, symptoms may not occur during activity but rather afterward or upon awakening. Athletic activities that often produce or aggravate such a problem include cycling, rowing and racket sports. A very common cause is the cumulative trauma to this area from repetitive actions such as typing, gardening, supermarket checking, knitting, packaging and assembly work.

Workers required to perform repetitive or continuous hand and arm motions without variation or frequent breaks are at risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Computer work is a major culprit.

Each time you punch a key a muscle contracts. The muscle is attached to tendons connected to the fingers. They glide through lubricated sheaths. With repeated movements, the muscles and tendons swell, causing friction.

Friction in the sheaths in turn causes fluid accumulation and sometimes scarring. When tendons and sheaths in the carpal tunnel swell, they compress the structures in this narrow space, especially the median nerve. Since swelling increases after activity, the symptoms may not be present until after the activity or workday is over.

Treating the Injury

Early treatment is essential. If nerve compression continues to the point of numbness or muscle atrophy the nerve damage may be irreversible. The first aspect of treatment is to modify your activity to reduce forces on the wrists.

What else can you do to improve the situation?

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Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine

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