Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect people of any age, but is primarily abundant in those between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age. This age grouping is mainly composed of those in the workforce that performs repetitive wrist or hand movements on a daily basis. In some studies, it has shown that women tend to suffer from carpal tunnel more than men, but this is not always the case.
Regular strenuous or repetitive movements can cause the tendons to inflame within the carpal tunnel, which can cause the median nerve to be compressed in the wrist. For some people, a small amount of inflammation may produce tingling symptoms or numbness, while others may be active for quite a while before symptoms begin to be truly bothersome. However, once the median nerve is compressed because of repetitive movements, carpal tunnel syndrome is not going to dissipate without treatment.
In addition, it may get worse over time, and if you have had injuries to your wrists or hands, you may have a greater propensity to develop carpal tunnel syndrome than someone else who has not had this type of injury. Those who have chronic diseases like diabetes, lupus, or cancer, or who have been pregnant may also be more at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome than other people.
One thing for sure. Once the median nerve is put under pressure due to movement it will not go away without treatment and may only get worse with time. Some people who have suffered from previous injuries or trauma to their wrists or hands may find that they will have to deal with carpal tunnel symptoms later on in life. Other medical conditions such as pregnancy, diabetes, breast cancer, lupus or other related illnesses could also produce carpal tunnel symptoms and place the sufferer at a higher risk than others.
Getting help is the first step to battling carpal tunnel, and seeking treatment early on is the best solution regardless of age or severity of the symptoms. Having a proactive treatment plan in place will keep you from creating further damage to the tendons and median nerve of your hands as well as giving you the education you need in order to keep your symptoms from flaring up in the future. Talking with other people who have had experience with carpal tunnel syndrome can be beneficial, but remember that not everyone’s situation is the same. What might work for someone else may not work for you. Although it is good to keep an open mind and try different possible treatments, yours may differ slightly that your neighbor’s overall plan.
In addition, you can wear these types of braces at night, during the day, or all the time, depending on what you need in the style of brace you choose. Regardless of the brace you choose, though, you will need to have fingers and thumb stay mobile even as your wrist is immobilized so that further damage is eliminated. Whatever the brace you choose based upon what you and your physician decide is best, make sure you exercise and stretch the muscles and tendons so that you can get back strength and avoid atrophy in the muscles as you heal.
Tom Nicholson has discovered a unique set of carpal tunnel exercises that have helped carpal tunnel sufferers all over the world. They are simple, easy to follow and can be done right from home. Take a look at his sight and find out what you can do to help prevent your CTS from progressing and easing the relieving your current suffering..