Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The author says the pain comes and goes, sometimes lasts through the night, and led to concern about carpal tunnel syndrome after a friend was diagnosed with early CTS. He also mentions looking for an ergonomic keyboard, finding FingerWorks’ TouchStream Keyboards, and worrying about the cost after import duty.

Reading notes

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• The median nerve can be compressed at the wrist when the carpal tunnel narrows because of swelling or thickened tendons.
• The condition can cause pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, with symptoms that may radiate up the arm.
• Early symptoms usually include burning, tingling, or numbness in the palm and fingers, especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
• Symptoms often begin at night, and people may wake up feeling the need to shake out the hand or wrist.
• As the condition worsens, grip strength can decrease, fine tasks can become difficult, and thumb muscles may waste away in chronic or untreated cases.
• The causes listed include congenital predisposition, wrist injury, pituitary overactivity, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, mechanical wrist problems, work stress, vibrating tools, pregnancy or menopause-related fluid retention, and cysts or tumors.
• The text says there is little clinical data proving that repetitive and forceful hand movements at work or leisure cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Prevention measures at work include stretching, rest breaks, splints, correct posture, fingerless gloves, redesigned workstations and tools, job rotation, and ergonomics programs, while noting that research has not conclusively shown these changes prevent CTS.