What is the carpal tunnel?

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist which has bone on 3 sides of it and a fibrous covering on the fourth. Through here runs the median nerve, which comes from the forearm and controls the feeling in the front surfaces of our fingers and thumb (the palm-side surfaces). There are also tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

When the tendons become irritated, they can thicken. Since there is no extra room inside the carpal tunnel, this squeezes the median nerve and causes pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand, wrist, and upwards through the arm.

Symptoms

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Tingling
• Itching
• Numbness
• Burning, and/or weakness in the thumb and fingers, especially the index and middle fingers

The symptoms often start gradually, so it might be some time before you realize anything is wrong. At first you might only feel them at night, and slowly they encroach into daily activities.

You might feel your grip becoming weaker, and may begin to confuse feelings of heat and cold. Daily activities can become more difficult as your hands lose their dexterity and strength. If it goes untreated for long enough, the muscles at the base of the thumb can start to atrophy for lack of full use.

Contributing causes

• Heredity - some people have a more narrow carpal tunnel than others
• Wrist injury that causes swelling in the carpal tunnel
• Mechanical problems with the wrist joint
• Long use of hand tools which vibrate
• Fluid retention
• Diseases which affect the nerves, making them more sensitive to compression, such as diabetes.

Although carpal tunnel syndrome became widely thought of as associated with computer keyboard use, it's more common among people who do assembly line work.

Treatment

Early diagnosis is important for preventing permanent injury to the median nerve.

• Rest and a splint to keep the wrist still
• Cool packs to reduce swelling
• Some drugs are helpful, such as ibuprofen to reduce swelling and diuretics to reduce water retention
• Stretching exercises are helpful after the pain or numbness has subsided
• Strengthening exercises, again only after the symptoms have subsided
• Surgery, done under local anesthesia, to enlarge the carpal tunnel

If you have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, it could be related to your work conditions, in which case you might have a valid worker's compensation claim against your employer. If it was caused by an accidental injury to your wrist, there may be a valid basis for pursuing a negligence case against the responsible party.

Why not consult an experienced personal injury attorney to see where you stand? An attorney could look into the facts of the matter, gather some more information, and determine whether you might be able to obtain compensation. Don't delay. Call or email Illinois workers compensation lawyer Barry Doyle today for your free legal consultation. No recovery, no fee.

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