Carpal Tunnel?

Question

I've been having really sharp pain and numbness in my left hand and forearm. I play the trombone and type a lot so I think the pressure of holding the trombone could have caused it but I'm not sure.

Can somebody tell me if those are symptoms of Carpal Tunnel?

Wow when I did that thing with my hands it felt like they were on fire.

Answer 1

There are three types of nerve compression damage that specifically affect the hand and fingers. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and Radial Tunnel Syndrome. I shall discuss the first two here. These are the basic symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Symptoms usually start gradually, with pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day, and decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In some cases no direct cause of the syndrome can be identified. Most likely the disorder is due to a congenital predisposition - the carpal tunnel is simply smaller in some people than in others. However, the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome is especially common in those performing assembly line work.
Ulnar Nerve Damage, known as Cubital tunnel syndrome- causes ulnar nerve dysfunction which is a common form of peripheral neuropathy. It occurs when there is damage to the ulnar nerve, which travels down the arm. The ulnar nerve is near the surface of the body where it crosses the elbow, so prolonged pressure on the elbow may cause damage. The damage involves the destruction of the covering of the nerve ( myelin sheath) or part of the nerve (axon). This damage slows or prevents nerve signaling. A problem with one single nerve group (such as the ulnar nerve) is called mononeuropathy. The usual causes are direct injury, prolonged external pressure on the nerve, or compression of the nerve caused by swelling or injury of nearby body structures. Entrapment involves pressure on the nerve where it passes through a narrow structure. Prolonged pressure on the base of the palm may also cause damage to part of the ulnar nerve. In some cases, no detectable cause can be identified. The symptoms include - Abnormal sensations in the 4th or 5th fingers. Numbness, decreased sensation. Tingling, burning sensation. Pain. Weakness of the hand. Pain or numbness may awaken the patient from sleep. The condition is made worse by activities such as tennis or golf. You can self-help yourself by "Over the counter" non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naprosyn, or ketoprofen. Check with your pharmacist regarding possible side effects and drug interactions. Take Vitamin B6 100 mg daily (not more) - controversial, but can't hurt, and might help. If you are pregnant or receiving vitamin therapy already, first check with your doctor. A splint or brace use while sleeping to keep the elbow from bending while you sleep - there are several home remedies which may be tried at bedtime: try at your own risk: Wrap a towel around the elbow, like a "pig in a blanket", and hold in place with tape or safety pins.
In all cases when more detailed medical information is required, you would be advised to consult you doctor.
I add a link with details of all three



http://www.merck.com/
mmpe/sec04/ch042/
ch042f.html


Hope this helps
matador 89

Answer 2

It is possible to have an electroconduction test that comes up still in the normal range when a patient is symptomatic. Look at what activities you are doing that might be aggrevating this. You want your wrist in a neutral position. This is the position where your wrist is slightly bent back. If you make a fist like you are going to pound on the table, your wrist will be in a neutral position. Your fingers are little marionettes controlled by strings (tendons) that go through your carpal tunnel. In a neutral wrist position those tendons pass cleanly through the carpal tunnel. If you bend your hand back and move your fingers, then the tendons rub against the carpal tunnel. If you bend your wrist forward and move your fingers (like you're trying to tickle the inside of your elbow on the same arm), then the tendons really run against the carpal tunnel. If it helps, put a rubber band around your wrist. Then imagine a string connected from your fingertips through the rubber band to the inside of your elbow. If you bend your hand back, the strings rub against your wrist. If you bend your wrist forward, the strings rub against the rubber band. Even side-to-side bending of your wrist can make problems. I use a keyboard that is split so that my wrists don't have to bend to the side to type. Hold your hands in front of you with everything relaxed so that your index fingers almost touch. That's a natural position. Then bend your wrists outward a bit so that all your fingers are in a line like they would be on a normal keyboard. Feel the difference? Advil or Aleve will help with the swelling. Tylenol will not.

Answer 3

Here are the symptoms


What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?



Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers. Some carpal tunnel sufferers say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. The symptoms often first appear in one or both hands during the night, since many people sleep with flexed wrists. A person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to "shake out" the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away. Some people are unable to tell between hot and cold by touch.

Answer 4

Well if you take your hands and press them together as if you were praying, then move them down as is you were hacking something, and move your arms toward the center of you chest. This will put preasure on the wrists. Do it for about a minuet. If yor pinky goes numb or any part of your hand goes numb you probably do have carpal.

The signs can range from tenderness to the wrist, numb hands, pain in the wrist. Just anything that is abnormal for your wrist or hand to feel.

Answer 5

Sounds like it could be. I had a severe case, and had the same symptoms as you as well as pain in fingers and palm. You know for sure you have it if it wakes you up all through out the night with it feeling as if its sleeping (the painful part that tingles and feels very swollen). Also in the mornings it would take hours to get the numbness to go away.

I had surgery 2 years ago, and have lived pain free since. I urge anyone who has the above symptoms to see a doctor, it doesn't get better, only worse! Good Luck!!

Answer 6

yah

Answer 7

Acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles into various points on your body, may reduce peripheral neuropathy symptoms.