So, you are sitting at your computer and everything is going swimmingly. Then suddenly your wrists start to hurt, your fingers get tingly. You give your hands a shake and get back to work. Then about twenty minutes later, the pain is back again. Other activities become harder too. Palming a ball, knitting, cutting up vegetables for dinner… any repetitive motion hurts.
You pop two or three Motrin and move on. You think it’s just fatigue, so you start taking more breaks while doing these tasks. Or you simply ignore it. Either way, the problem isn’t going to go away. In fact, it will probably keep getting worse.
What’s wrong? Well, someone asked me and I actually had to ask myself this question not too long ago. So, I’m happy to share my findings and acquired knowledge with everyone…
It could actually be one of many problems but we are going to discuss two: carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome Both problems are becoming more and more common as we use computer more often and for longer periods of time. In fact, if you are someone who sits at a computer all day, it’s considered a job hazard.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is more prevalent and consequentially it’s more commonly known. But what is it exactly? Carpal tunnel syndrome is the neuropathy of the median nerve that is the result of compression of the carpal tunnel in your wrist.
A mouthful huh? Well, let’s break it down. Neuropathy is a fancy word for damage to the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves in your arms, legs, hands, feet and so on… pretty much all nerves besides the brain and spinal cord. The median nerve is a nerve that is located in the upper part of your limbs (arms and legs). It is the only nerve that runs through the carpal tunnel which is why it is affected by the compression of this area. The carpal tunnel is a passageway for the median nerve to connect the palm side of the hand to the forearm.
Cubital tunnel syndrome is a type of ulnar nerve entrapment. Entrapment in this context just means pinching or an obstruction of the nerve. The obstruction occurs in the cubital tunnel which is along the outer edge of the elbow. The ulnar nerve is another nerve that is part of the peripheral nervous system.
Now that we covered that… what happens when you compress or obstruct a nerve? Well think of what happens when you step on a hose. The water is blocked. Now this is a bit of a labored metaphor since signals to the brain don’t get backed up but the action potentials nerves use to transmit messages to the brain are compromised. Signals won’t get back to the brain which is why you experience pain and numbness. This compression overtime will cause damage to the nerve and this can become permanent.
If you suspect you have a problem, going to your doctor sooner rather than later is a good idea. In fact… I recommend this for any chronic pain or numbness but I digress. Your doctor may choose to perform an electromyography (EMG) and/or nerve conduction study (NCS). This will determine which problem you have and the severity of the condition.
Having experienced such tests I can say neither is particularly pleasant but it’s nothing to be avoided. It doesn’t last all that long and it was more uncomfortable than painful. During a NCS, the doctor (or nurse) electrically stimulates of the area of your body with the issue and measures your reaction time. During an EMG, very fine needles are inserted into the muscle and you have to tense the muscles in order to measure their level of functionality.
If you are diagnosed, what treatments are available? Carpal tunnel can be minimized by using an ergonomic keyboard and vertical mouse, taking breaks when performing repetitive tasks and practicing good posture. Another good thing to do is to wear wrist splints at night to keep your wrists straight. That prevents eight hours of pressure on your wrists (and you should be getting eight hours whenever possible!). Cubital tunnel can be relieved by refraining from leaning on your elbows on a hard surface for long periods of times. Wearing elbow pads can help as well as keeping your arms straight whenever possible.
If you are still suffering, cortisone shots may be administered to the affected area. Cortisone is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that is released in response to stress. Corticosteroid is a synthetic version of cortisone that is injected. It reduces inflammation and pain by suppressing the immune system. Long term use is not advised as it can cause anxiety, cataracts, depression, insulin resistance among other problems. Short term effects are pain, infection and pigment changes at the injection site. Otherwise in the short-term it’s pretty safe.
If none of that helps, your doctor may recommend surgery. The surgery involves the cutting of the transverse carpal ligament or shifting the ulnar nerve in the case of cubital tunnel syndrome. This will relieve pressure on the nerve and alleviate (most) symptoms.
Some people are prone to having such conditions. Women and those with a smaller stature are more likely to experience problems. There is also a genetic component.
So, what can you do to prevent these problems from happening? Be mindful of your daily activities and making use of ergonomic devices and work stations can help. And, as I discussed in another blog about yoga, it’s so important to listen to your body. Pain and numbness aren’t comfortable but they are your body trying to tell you something. So… listen 🙂
P.S. If you get sudden and/or extreme numbness anywhere on your body and it’s not something you’d experienced before… you may want to seek medical attention. This goes with the idea of listening to your body… better to be safe than sorry!