Steemit Learning Challenge-S22W1; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" by @rossnenye

Hello everyone, good morning and happy New Week to you all. It's Season22 Week1 of our Steemit Learning Challenge and I'm so excited to participate again. I'm so glad that our Tutor was selected again to teach us.

What's carpal tunnel syndrome? Write in your own words after getting knowledge from the lesson post.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a type of Medical Condition that occurs when their is a Compression on the Median Nerve which runs through a Narrow Passage in the Wrist called Carpal Tunnel. This Compression can result to pain, numbness and tingling in the hand.

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Repetitive hand and Wrist motions

Constant activities that involves constant repetitive flexing of the Wrist such as Typing, playing musical instruments like Piano, guitar can lead to inflammation and Compression in the Median Nerve.

• Obesity

Overweight can also cause fluid retention and inflammation which can result to pressure on the Median Nerve.

• Wrist fracture

Injury or sprain on the Wrist can lead to Swelling which can lead to pressure on the Median Nerve.

• Medical Conditions

Some medical conditions like Rheumatoid, Arthritis, Diabetes can increase the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Types of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

They're three types of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and they include the following.

• Acute Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This is a type of CTS that occurs rapidly especially due to Injury or Trauma on the Wrist.

• Primary Carpal Tunnel

This type of CTS usually occur without any specific medical ailments. It is usually as a result of constant hand and Wrist motions.

• Secondary Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This type of CTS is usually caused by Medical Conditions like Diabetes, Arthritis etc.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Numbness

The Victim usually feels tingling and weakness in the finger.

• Pain

The Victim also feels sharp pain from the Wrist to the Hand and Finger.

• Difficulty in performing Fine Motor skills

The Victim also encounters pain in fine Motor skills like picking up things, buttoning up shirts.

Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Rest

Avoid activities that can trigger the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

• Pain relief Medications

Pain relief medication like Naproxen, Diclofenac and Ibuprofen can be taken to reduce pain.

• Corticosteroids Injection

Corticosteroids Injection can be injected in to the Carpal Tunnel to prevent pain.

• Physical Therapy

You can employ the service of a therapist who can show you exercise that will strengthen the muscles, relieve pain and enhance flexibility.

• Surgery

Surgery can be performed to remove the Ligament Compressing the Median Nerve.

How would you diagnose a carpal tunnel syndrome? Any clinical investigation or assessment tests?

Clinical investigation

• Medical history

He would ask you when you started noticing this symptoms, how serious they're and for how long you've been noticing them. He would also go ahead to ask if you're suffering from any medical condition like thyroid disease, Diabetes that can trigger it. He would also ask about about your lifestyle to know if they is any that can lead to repetitive hand motion.

• Physical examination

The Doctor will check your Wrists and hand to know if there is any sign of weakness, pain and numbness. The Doctor will also tap your Wrist over the Median Nerve to know if the patient will feel tingling in the Finger which is a symptom of CTS.

Assessment Test

• Electromyography (EMG)

This test is conducted on a Patient to measure the electrical activity of the muscle. If the muscle is weak, then is a sign of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

• Ultrasound

This test uses sound waves to create Images of the Wrist, which will help to show any ailments on the wrist.

Special Test

• Reverse Phalen test

To perform this test, the Patient is asked to place his arms straight in front with the Wrists extended. The Doctor then uses his hand to gently press the back of the Patient hand while applying pressure to the Wrist. If the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is felt, then it's positive.

• Phalen Test

To perform this test, the Patient is asked to stretch out their arm in front with their Wrist flexed. The Doctor then uses his hand to press the back of the hand while applying pressure on the Wrist and if sharp pain and tingling is felt, then Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is positive.

• Flick Test

The Patient is asked to hold his arm straight in front. Then the Wrist is flicked up many times and if the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is felt, then it's positive.

Try to practice at least 3 exercises that you have learned from the lesson. Share images, gifs or videos while practicing preferably gifs or videos.

• Thumb stretch

To perform this exercise, I stretched out my palm, and then grabbed my thump into a fist. I then Bended my Wrist down until I felt the stretch on my thump and Wrist.

• Arm prayer stretch

To perform this, I sat down on the floor and then stretched out my arm in front of me and then bring my two palms together like I'm praying. I held on about 5 to 10 minutes before releasing my palms. I repeated these exercise two more times

• Median Nerve Glides

To perform this exercise, I was standing up while performing it, I first stretched out my arm in my front with my Palm facing down and then titled my wrist up, while maintaining my forearm still. I held on for about 10 to 15 minutes before releasing myself.

Share your review after performing these exercises either on yourself, healthy individual or patient.

While performing the Median Nerve Glides and the arm prayer stretch, I felt my hands stretched, I also felt serious pain on my hand but I massaged and applied Icepacks on my hand after the exercise and felt relieved. Then for the Thump Stretch I didn't feel any pain, I only felt my fingers stretched and light. I love how I felt after the exercises.

It was really amazing learning and practicing this exercises, thanks to our Tutor. Thanks for reading my post, I invite @chiomi, @ogechukwu-martha and @dqueen to participate in this contest.

Cc:

@ashkhan