The doctor told about the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a pathological condition in which compression of the median nerve occurs, which is responsible for the sensitivity of the wrist, palm surface and fingers. On March 8, Roxana Portnova, a general practitioner and cardiologist at the Sberbank Health medical company, told Izvestia about the causes of its occurrence and prevention.

Among the factors leading to the development of the syndrome, the doctor identified repetitive stress on the hands and wrists, lifting weights, working with vibrating instruments, prolonged periods of flexion and extension of the wrist, as well as manual work at low temperatures.

Hereditary predisposition and the presence of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid pathology are also risk factors, the expert noted.

"Carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in women — one possible explanation for this phenomenon is that they have an anatomically narrower channel for nerve passage than men. It is worth noting that the risk of developing this syndrome increases during pregnancy. In most cases, it disappears a few weeks or months after giving birth, but in breast—feeding women it can persist for several months," the doctor explained.

At an early stage of the disease, unpleasant sensations may occur periodically, most often with a load on the hand or in an uncomfortable position. For example, it can manifest itself in a "tingling sensation" in the fingers. In the absence of treatment, the discomfort becomes almost constant, and pain is added to it. In some cases, the pain may spread to the forearm and shoulder area. A characteristic feature of carpal tunnel syndrome is an increase in symptoms at night, the doctor noted. She advised to consult a neurologist if such symptoms occur.

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"At a late stage of the disease, without timely therapy, a person develops a malfunction of the limb — weakness occurs when the hand is clenched into a fist and clumsiness of the fingers, which complicates the performance of routine actions, such as buttoning or holding a spoon. Subsequently, the patient develops muscular atrophy — a decrease in muscle volume and shortening, which leads to the development of deformity of the hand. This, in turn, is fraught with disability," the specialist said.

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome can be conservative and surgical. Conservative treatment is prescribed to a patient with mild or moderate symptoms of the syndrome. It includes splinting — the use of a splint or retainer to keep the wrist in a neutral position, as well as taking glucocorticoids, physical therapy and physical therapy.

On February 24, Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, Candidate of Medical Sciences, expert doctor at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia about how to maintain joint health. First of all, she advised to limit the use of salt, spicy spices and smoked meats. It is important to ensure that the diet contains enough foods rich in vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and bioflavonoids, the doctor noted.