As more of us find ourselves behind a keyboard for hours each day professionally, instances of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are on the rise. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, “Carpal tunnel syndrome results in the highest number of days lost among all work related injuries. Almost half of the carpal tunnel cases result in 31 days or more of work loss.”
The U.S. Department of Labor called the condition the “chief occupational hazard of the ’90s” as it disabled workers in “epidemic proportions.”
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a type of repetitive stress injury that is most commonly caused by repetitive motion in the workplace. This can range from long hours of typing or data entry at a keyboard to long-term use of vibrating hand tools or other types of instruments.
This painful condition is caused by swelling of the flexor tendons of the hand. The flexor tendons, median nerve, and deep radial artery and vein all pass from your forearm to your hand through a very narrow ‘tunnel’ composed of bones and ligaments in your wrist. When these tendons or surrounding membranes swell, it exerts pressure on the median nerve, causing pain, numbness, or tingling.
Unfortunately, you really can’t do a whole lot without your hands, making carpal tunnel release surgery the most common procedure done on the hand and wrist with more than 460,000 performed annually.
Learn all about carpal tunnel release surgery here.
If you think you’re experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, check your risk factors or make an appointment with an Azalea specialist today!