4.)
BIZ*TECH SAVVY SOLUTIONS
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Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome
I will go over
what exactly carpal tunnel is, what some of the symptoms are and how
all of you could be affected by it. Let's get started! It is
basically the result of a compressed nerve in the wrist area. The
affected nerve is called the median nerve and it is in charge of
delivering sensations to the thumb and all of the other fingers, minus
the pinky. The term carpal tunnel actually comes from the passageway
of bones and ligaments in the wrist that the median nerve goes
through. If the median nerve is compressed, it could result in
numbness and different levels of pain.
A lot of
different symptoms surround the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, including
pain, numbness and tingling. Some people even suffer from lack of
strength in their grip and burning sensations in the wrist and hand
areas. Severe cases of the syndrome also include the inability to
sense hot and cold.
The Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome can start to flare up when your wrist or arm has been
compressed or has been in the same position for a long period of time.
It could be caused by sleeping with your wrists flexed all night,
using a mouse or keyboard for too long without taking a break or it
can even be caused by falling and landing on your wrists the wrong
way. Keeping your wrists in the same position without rest can
definitely cause carpal tunnel.
Studies show that
women are more likely to have carpal tunnel than men, mostly because
their arms and nerves are smaller. It's also said that certain
occupations carry a big risk for this type of injury. Some of those
include assembly line workers, typists or anything that requires you
to do the same task over and over again. As you can see, using your
computer for an extended amount of time without rest can be
troublesome. If you fall into that category, you can take steps to
avoid the carpal tunnel injury. For example, you should take plenty of
breaks. If you just take five minutes out of every half hour to flex
your wrists and relax your muscles, you'll be much better off in the
end. Doing that can really save you from some pain later on.
If you feel any
of the above symptoms, you'll want to consult your doctor. Your doctor
will probably start out with a treatment plan of rest for
approximately two weeks. Surgery is used as a last resort, but you
should do all you can beforehand to make sure it doesn't come to that.
Certain drugs, acupuncture and massage therapy have also been used in
treatment plans. You should also ensure that arthritis isn't causing
your pain and if it is, be sure to treat that first.
Now, if you fear
carpal tunnel because you use your computer on a regular basis, there
are some things you can do to combat it. First, try switching to an
ergonomic keyboard. They are split and angled so that your fingers
rest more naturally on the keys. On a standard keyboard, you have to
twist your wrists outward, which puts more strain on your carpal
tunnel area. An ergonomic keyboard helps you position your wrists for
a more comfortable feel, which minimizes the pressure. There are
ergonomic mice you can use as well and you can find those and the
keyboards at any regular computer store
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