Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Abstract
The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue, which normally
functions as a support for the joint. The tight space between this
fibrous band and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel (The Stay
Well Company, 1999). The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel
to receive sensations from the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the
hand. Any condition that causes swelling or a change in position of
the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the
median nerve, which causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index,
and the middle fingers, a condition known as "carpal tunnel syndrome"
(Nidus Information Systems, 2001). All people can be affected by CTS,
but it is most common among women between the ages of 29 and 62.
Though medical awareness of CTS as a widespread and treatable
condition is only a recent phenomenon, current treatments are mostly
effective in relieving symptoms (The Hand Center, 2004). In this
essay, one will find detail about the causes of CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome –4-
Problem Statement
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is an inflammatory disease of the median nerve
in the carpal tunnel. If left untreated it can result in serious nerve
damage.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is related to many repetitive type movements
that cause a pinching in the median nerve of the wrist. Doctors have
introduced surgery that releases the tension on this nerve with an
endoscopic procedure that was introduced fifty years after carpal
tunnel was introduced. The basic anatomy of the wrist is analyzed to
help gain a better understanding of where this disease is taking
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The first activity was isolating the gastrocnemius muscle. A cut between the thigh and hip was made so the skin can be pulled down past the lower leg. Then the tendon was cut away from the bone of the heel and one end of the nine-inch string was tied to the tendon. This led to the isolation of the sciatic nerve, found between the hamstring and heel on the lateral side of the thigh. Using fingers, the seams along the quadriceps and hamstring underwent a blunt dissection. In doing so, the glass-dissecting probe was used to free the sciatic nerve embedded in the tissues. A four-inch string was inserted between the nerve and the tissues. Then the transducer was calibrated using a fifty-gram block under the “Frog Muscle” program. Parameter of CAL 1 was changed to zero grams and CAL 2 was changed
That's basically it. A surgery that baseball players and fans have grown to appreciate, and one of the more scientific breakthroughs in modern sports medicine. And after doing this report I’m fascinated by the modern science and how a tendon in your wrist can be used as a ligament.
The ability to flex the finger consists of a serial of flexor muscles in the forearm and their tendons are inserted to the bones of finger. The injury of flexor tendon might cause the loss of bending of the fingers or thumb. The flexor digitorum profundus tendon (FDP) attaching to the distal phalanx and the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon banding to middle phalanx well demonstrated the specific type of tendon-to-bone insertion site characterized by the four-zone enthesis.[1] The retinacula (sheath) structures serve as strong fibrous bands wrap around the flexor tendons in order to keep the flexor tendons in place while flexion.
Pain was significantly increased with flexion and extension. Sensation is decreased in the bilateral upper extremities. Strength is decreased in the bilateral upper extremities.
Dr. Matthew, Stephanie Danielle. "Dupuytren Contracture ." Dupuytren Contracture. WebMD, 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 14 Dec. 2013.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, 1997. Tabular list of neurological and related disorders. In: WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, ed. Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Neurology. Canada: World Health Organisation, p. 153.
Carpel tunnel is defined as “a pinched nerve in [the] wrist” (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20030332). Approximately a third a dental hygienists have reported having carpel tunnel syndrome (Darby Walsh 151). It is the cause of repetitive movements such as continuously flexing the wrist. Room temperature in another important factor to consider as a cause for carpel tunnel and many other musculoskeletal disorders. The muscles in the body tend to relax at warmer clients, therefore if the temperature of the dental office is too low, it will cause the muscles to become stiff which will consequently lead to repetitive strain injuries (Darby&Walsh 144). Some preventive measures include good posture with feet flat on the ground and thighs parallel to the ground and avoid over flexing the hand and wrist in any way (Darby and walsh
Parkinson's is an idiopathic, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that attacks neurotransmitters in the brain called dopamine. Dopamine is concentrated in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. The neurotransmitter dopamine is a chemical that regulates muscle movement and emotion. Dopamine is responsible for relaying messages between the substantia nigra and other parts of the brain to control body movement. The death of these neurotransmitters affects the central nervous system. The most common symptoms are movement related, including shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with posture. Behavioral problems may arise as the disease progresses. Due to the loss of dopamine, Parkinson's patients will often experience depression and some compulsive behavior. In advanced stages of the disease dementia will sometimes occur. The implications of the disease on the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory and phonatory systems significantly control speech.
A hypothesis that can be made from the patient’s report is that she is suffering from cervical radiculopathy, or a nerve root lesion. Symptoms that describe cervical radiculopathy include: arm pain in a dermatome distribution, pain increased by extension, rotation, and/or side flexion, possible relief of pain from arm positioned overhead, affected sensation, altered hand function, no spasticity, and no change to gait or bowel and bladder function (Magee, 2008, p. 142). These symptoms correlate to what the patient reported as a result of her injury. She stated that her pain is in the posterolateral upper and lower arm with aching and paresthesia in the thumb and index finger, which is in the dermatome pattern of cervical root 5 and 6 (C5, C6) (Magee, 2008, p. 25). She also reports lancinating pain with extension or rotation to the right of her head.
Anyone can suffer from torticollis following a muscle injury or nervous system. However, in most cases, the cause of torticollis is unknown. In this case, it is called idiopathic torticollis.
Abraham, R.A. (2015, February 25). “Causes of bipolar disorder”. webmd.com Web. 28 June 2015. http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-causes
James Parkinson first discovered Parkinson's Disease in 1817. Parkinson's Disease is a common neurologic disorder for the elderly. It is a disorder of the brain characterized by shaking and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. This disease is associated with damage to a part of the brain that controls muscle movement. Parkinson's Disease is a chronic illness that is still being extensively studied.
Dyck, P., Feldman, E., & Vinick, A. 2013 - November 26. Diabetic Neuropathy: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes. Retrieved from http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/#types. NINDS (2008, September 16). NINDS Diabetic Neuropathy Information Page.
Any pressure in this region will disrupt circulation into the hand and this will increase the risks of injury. Avoid Restricting Arm Movement - with a softly padded wrist rest, especially one that is rounded, or a soft chair arm rest the forearm becomes locked into position and this encourages people to make mouse movements by flicking the wrist, which also increases pressure. Choose a mouse design that fits your hand but is as flat as possible to reduce wrist extension. Don't use a curved mouse. Use a symmetrically shaped mouse. Consider a larger mouse, such as the Whale mouse, that encourage arm rather than wrist movements.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the first term that comes to mind when thinking of problems that people experience with computer use regarding their hands. Based on my limited knowledge of this topic, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs due to a persons prolonged usage of a computer keyboard. Problems of this sort occur more often due to poor ergonomics and posture. Computer office furniture that does not allow one to adjust the height of the chair or keyboard, so that the arms form a write angle at the elbow, cause strain on the wrist, which may result in carpal tunnel syndrome. People who use computers for long periods of time without giving themselves a break and flexing their wrist have a higher propensity of developing problems.