One of the unfortunate results coming from the overall positive boost in youth sports is an increase in sports injuries. Based on research conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high school athletes have suffered from upwards of 2 million injuries, made about a half a million visits to the doctor, and experienced nearly 30,000 stays in the hospital. One of the most common injuries youth will experience is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Most people with CTS report pain and pins and needles or tingling, weakness and numbness in the hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the irritation of the synovial membranes around the tendons in the carpal tunnel. This inflammation results in in pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve travels from the forearm into the hand through a 'tunnel' in your wrist. Understanding Carpal Tunnel makes is more avoidable and treatable.
People suffering with CTS complain there is numbness in their fingers. This numbness usually affects the thumb, the index finger, and the ring finger. The numbness arise usually at night. Pain can be so intense that it wakes a person up from sleep. There might also be a burning sensation felt in the fingers. Some people complain they have a weakened grip and they cannot hold items as they did in the past
It is strongly advisable not to be dismissive of the presence of symptoms related to CTS and this symptoms do appear sometimes to mimic Paresthesia. This condition is known to impact the thoracic outlet in the arm. A was mentioned earlier, the meridian nerve travels through the forearm until it eventually reaches the carpal tunnel when it can remain and cause those aforementioned symptoms.
Carpal tunnel is caused by anything that irritates the synovial membranes around the tendons of the hands and in turn causes pressure on the median nerve. Common irritant activities include repetitive grasping, repetitive bending of the wrist, arthritis, and diabetes. Many reports of CTS appear linked to overuse of the hand. This is common in sports associated with overuse. Other possible causes for CTS include arthritis, trauma, tumors, and even obesity.
If you do not take the steps to treat CTS, the problem might continue to grow and even become worse as permanent damage to the median nerve might be the unfortunate end result. When this nerve suffers from damage, the common symptoms of CTS can end up getting worse which means weakness and numbness will not go away and potentially far worse symptoms could end up emerging.
Those that have treatment undertaken to correct the problem will learn that they may be able to fix what is wrong with the nerves. Among the most common treatments for the problem will be RICE (rest, ice and compression along with elevation). The wrist will commonly be immobilized with a brace to facilitate this result. Anti-inflammatories might be prescribed to help cut down on pain and inflammation and this might help with reducing the potential for enhanced damage to the median nerve.
If CTS can't be controlled or relieved a doctor is likely to recommend Corticosteroid injections and then surgery. Surgery is he only treatment that offers and provides permanent relief. The nerve is released in a procedure called Carpal Tunnel Release.
Carpal tunnel syndrome in young athletes is on the rise; it is treatable but is best prevented.
It is possible to avoid CTS by way of using proper technique in performance and also by avoiding putting your hands and arms through too much stress. When you are starting to show the common symptoms of CTS, then you are well advise to speak with a doctor. Do not wait to see if the problem fixes itself. You must get professional advice to avoid having to go through a troubling surgery.
Most people with CTS report pain and pins and needles or tingling, weakness and numbness in the hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the irritation of the synovial membranes around the tendons in the carpal tunnel. This inflammation results in in pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve travels from the forearm into the hand through a 'tunnel' in your wrist. Understanding Carpal Tunnel makes is more avoidable and treatable.
People suffering with CTS complain there is numbness in their fingers. This numbness usually affects the thumb, the index finger, and the ring finger. The numbness arise usually at night. Pain can be so intense that it wakes a person up from sleep. There might also be a burning sensation felt in the fingers. Some people complain they have a weakened grip and they cannot hold items as they did in the past
It is strongly advisable not to be dismissive of the presence of symptoms related to CTS and this symptoms do appear sometimes to mimic Paresthesia. This condition is known to impact the thoracic outlet in the arm. A was mentioned earlier, the meridian nerve travels through the forearm until it eventually reaches the carpal tunnel when it can remain and cause those aforementioned symptoms.
Carpal tunnel is caused by anything that irritates the synovial membranes around the tendons of the hands and in turn causes pressure on the median nerve. Common irritant activities include repetitive grasping, repetitive bending of the wrist, arthritis, and diabetes. Many reports of CTS appear linked to overuse of the hand. This is common in sports associated with overuse. Other possible causes for CTS include arthritis, trauma, tumors, and even obesity.
If you do not take the steps to treat CTS, the problem might continue to grow and even become worse as permanent damage to the median nerve might be the unfortunate end result. When this nerve suffers from damage, the common symptoms of CTS can end up getting worse which means weakness and numbness will not go away and potentially far worse symptoms could end up emerging.
Those that have treatment undertaken to correct the problem will learn that they may be able to fix what is wrong with the nerves. Among the most common treatments for the problem will be RICE (rest, ice and compression along with elevation). The wrist will commonly be immobilized with a brace to facilitate this result. Anti-inflammatories might be prescribed to help cut down on pain and inflammation and this might help with reducing the potential for enhanced damage to the median nerve.
If CTS can't be controlled or relieved a doctor is likely to recommend Corticosteroid injections and then surgery. Surgery is he only treatment that offers and provides permanent relief. The nerve is released in a procedure called Carpal Tunnel Release.
Carpal tunnel syndrome in young athletes is on the rise; it is treatable but is best prevented.
It is possible to avoid CTS by way of using proper technique in performance and also by avoiding putting your hands and arms through too much stress. When you are starting to show the common symptoms of CTS, then you are well advise to speak with a doctor. Do not wait to see if the problem fixes itself. You must get professional advice to avoid having to go through a troubling surgery.
About the Author:
Some carpal tunnel came from the SportsMED website (sportsmed.com.) The author didn't consult with SportsMED on the validity or accuracy of this article.
