Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most expensive of all work- related injuries. Over his or her lifetime, a carpal tunnel patient loses about $30,000 in medical bills and time absent from work. In 1998, an estimated 3 of every 10,000 workers took time off from work because of CTS. Half of them missed more than IO workdays.
CTS typically occurs in adults, with women 3 times more likely to develop it than men.The dominant hand is usually affected first, and the pain is typically severe. CTS is especially common in assembly- line workers in manufacturing, sewing, finishing, cleaning, meatpacking, and similar industries. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, according to recent research, people who perform data entry at a computer (up to 7 hours a day) are not at increased risk of developing CTS.
What Is CTS?
CTS is a problem of the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand. The median nerve provides sensation to the palm side of the thumb, index, and middle fingers and regulates the function of some small muscles in the hand that move the fingers and thumb. CTS occurs when the median nerve gets compressed in the carpal tunnel-a narrow tunnel at the wrist-made up of bones and soft tissues, such as nerves, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. The compression may result in pain, weakness, and/or numbness in the hand and wrist, which radiates up into the forearm. CTS is the most common of the "entrapment neuropathies"-compression or trauma of the body`s nerves in the hands or feet. A similar condition in the foot is called tarsal tunnel syndrome.
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms usually begin gradually. Burning, tingling, itching, and/ or numbness in the palm of the hand and thumb, index, and middle fingers are most common. Some people with CTS say that their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. Since many people sleep with flexed wrists, the symptoms oftenfirst appear while sleeping. When this happens, some people feel the need to "shake off the numbness." As symptoms worsen, they may feel tingling during the day. In addition, weakened grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. Some people develop wasting of the muscles at the base of the thumb. Some are unable to distinguish hot from cold by touch.
Why Does CTS Develop?
Some people have smaller carpal tunnels than others, which makes the median nerve compression more likely. In others, CTS can develop because of an injury to the wrist that causes swelling, over- activity of the pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, mechanical problems in the wrist joint, poor work ergonomics, repeated use of vibrating hand tools, and fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause. In some cases, no cause can be identified.
How Is It Diagnosed?
To avoid permanent damage to the median nerve, CTS should be diagnosed and treated early. A standard physical examination of the hands, arms, shoulders, and neck can help determine if your symptoms are related to daily activities or to an underlying disorder. Your doctor of chiropractic can use other specific tests to try to produce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The most common are:
* Pressure-provocative test. A cuff placed at the front of the carpal tunnel is inflated, followed by direct pressure on the median nerve.
* Carpal compression test. Moderate pressure is applied with both thumbs directly on the carpal tunnel and underlying median nerve at the transverse carpal ligament. The test is relatively new.
Laboratory tests and x-rays can reveal diabetes, arthritis, fractures, and other common causes of wrist and hand pain. Sometimes electrodiagnostic tests, such as nerveconduction velocity testing, are used to help confirm the diagnosis. With these tests, small electrodes, placed on your skin, measure the speed at which electrical impulses travel across your wrist. CTS will slow the speed of the impulses and will point your doctor of chiropractic to this diagnosis. These tests can also help determine if some other condition is causing your complaints.
What Is the CTS Treatment?
CTS treatment should begin as early as possible under a doctor`s supervision. Initial therapy includes:
* Resting the affected hand and wrist
* Avoiding activities that may worsen symptoms
* Immobilizing the wrist in a splint to avoid further damage from twisting or bending
* Applying cool packs to help reduce swelling from inflammations.
Some medications can help with pain control and inflammation. Studies have shown that vitamin Ek supplements may relieve CTS symptoms.
Chiropractic joint manipulation and mobilization of the wrist and hand, stretching and strengthening exercises, soft-tissue mobilization techniques, and even yoga can be helpful. Scientists are also investigating other therapies, such as acupuncture, that may help prevent and treat this disorder. Your doctor of chiropractic can discuss those therapies with you and help you prevent the return of CTS.
Occasionally, patients whose symptoms fail to respond to conservative care may require surgery. The surgeon releases the ligament covering the carpal tunnel.Today, this outpatient procedure is typically done with an endoscope-a camera that the surgeon uses to see inside the carpal tunnel.The majority of patients recover completely after treatment, and the recurrence rate is low. Proper posture and movement as instructed by your doctor of chiropractic can help prevent CTS recurrences.
How Can CTS Be Prevented?
The American Chiropractic Association recommends the following tips:
* Perform on-the-job conditioning, such as stretching and light exercises.
* Take frequent rest breaks.
* Wear splints to help keep the wrists straight.
* Use fingerless gloves to help keep the hands warm and flexible.
* Use correct posture and wrist position. If needed, your doctor of chiropractic can assess your work situation and advise you on restructuring your workstation, job tasks, and handling tools or tool handles, to help you position your wrists naturally during work.
* Your doctor of chiropractic can help educate your employer about CTS. To minimize workplace injuries, jobs can be rotated among workers. Employers can also develop programs in ergonomics-the process of adapting workplace conditions and job demands to workers` physical capabilities.
Your doctor of chiropractic has the knowledge, training, and expertise to heLp you understand what your problem is and, in many cases, manage it successfully. Remember, however, that the treatment program can be successful only with your active participation. If your doctor of chiropractic feels that he or she cannot help you, he or she will direct you to another health care provider.
Reference:
2002-2004 RedNova.com
It is not uncommon for pregnant women to suffer the effects of carpal
tunnel syndrome. This is due to the hormonal changes and increased edema
(fluid) in the extremities. Subluxation plays a major role in the
formation of carpal tunnel in pregnant women.
ICA International Review of Chiropractic, Jan./Feb. 1993
Since 1985, when the U. S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) accepted that there were "traumatogens" in the workplace and demanded that repetitive motion disorders be reported, the recorded incidence of cumulative trauma disorders has skyrocketed (Figure 3). About 277,000 cases were reportedin 1997, compared with fewer than 50,000 in 1985. CTS has been the fastest growing category, recently accounting for more than 40% of all work-related disabilities. An estimated 26,000 CTS patients in the United States undergo surgical decompression each year. Median time lost from work is about 32 days per patient, more than for any other cause, including back pain.
Source: US Department of Labor
In August 1999, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas, presented a study aimed at determining the cost and effectiveness of treating back pain with chiropractic compared with other techniques.
The results showed that 38 percent of the patients chose to seek chiropractic care rather than medical care.
Source: 1998-2004 ICBS, Inc.
Does
Back Pain Go Away on Its Own?
Eighty percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their
lives. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the
doctor`s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Most
cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic, i.e., not caused by
serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture,
or cancer.
What
Causes Back Pain?
The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments, and
muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and
irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports
injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of
movements-for example, picking up a pencil from the floor-can have
painful results. In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and
psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain. Back pain can
also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney
stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.
Back injuries are a part of everyday life, and the spine is quite good at dealing with these often "pulled" muscles. These very minor injuries usually heal within 1 or 2 days. Some pain, however, continues. What makes some pain last longer is not entirely understood, but researchers suspect that the reasons may include stress, mood changes, and the fear of further injury that may prevent patients from being active. In addition, sometimes a painful injury or disease changes the way the pain signals are sent through the body, and, even after the problem has gone away or is inactive, the pain signals still reach the brain. It is as if the pain develops a memory that keeps being replayed.
Will
Back Pain Go Away on Its Own?
Until recently, researchers believed that back pain will "heal" on its
own. We have learned, however, that this is not true. A recent study
showed that when back pain is not treated, it may go away temporarily
but will most likely return. The study demonstrated that in more than
33% of the people who experience low-back pain, the pain lasts for more
than 30 days. Only 9% of the people who had low-back pain for more than
30 days were pain free 5 years later.1
Another study looked at all of the available research on the natural history of low-back pain. The results showed that when it is ignored, back pain does not go away on its own.2 Those studies demonstrate that low-back pain continues to affect people for long periods after it first begins.
What
Can I Do to Prevent Long-Term Back Pain?
If your back pain is not resolving quickly, visit your doctor of
chiropractic. Your pain will often result from mechanical problems that
your doctor of chiropractic can address. Many chiropractic patients with
relatively long-lasting or recurring back pain feel improvement shortly
after starting chiropractic treatment.3 The relief they feel after a
month of treatment is often greater than after seeing a family
physician.4
Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces pain, decreases medication, rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.5
How Can I Prevent Back Pain?
Don`t lift by bending over. Instead, bend your hips and knees and then squat to pick up the object. Keep your back straight, and hold the object close to your body.
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References
1. Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Engberg M, Lauritzen T, Bruun NH, Manniche C.
2. The course of low-back pain in a general population. Results from a 5-year prospective study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2003 May;26(4):213-9.
3. Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Manniche C. Low-back pain: what is the long-term course? A review of studies of general patient populations. Eur Spine J 2003 Apr;12(2):149-65.
4. Stig LC, Nilsson O, Leboeuf-Yde C. Recovery pattern of patients treated with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for long-lasting or recurrent low back pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001 May;24(4):288-91.
5.
Nyiendo J, Haas M, Goodwin P. Patient characteristics, practice
activities, and one-month outcomes for chronic, recurrent low-back pain
treated by chiropractors and family medicine physicians: a
practice-based feasibility study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000
May;23(4):239-45.
Time to recognize value of chiropractic care? Science and patient
satisfaction surveys cite usefulness of spinal manipulation. Orthopedics
Today February 2003;23(2):14-15.