Everyday Minnesota workers deal with a painful condition of the hands and wrists know as Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or median neuritis. Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve, which runs from the shoulder down the arm to the hand. In advanced cases, carpal tunnel syndrome can make the simplest chore or activity impossible, such as gripping objects at work to folding laundry at home.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in one wrist, or both (bilateral carpal tunnel). It affects workers in many industries such as meatpacking, grocery checkout, and assembly work. In nearly two decades of handling Minnesota Workers Compensation matters, attorney Tom Atkinson has found bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome to be especially prevalent among those whose work involves computers, repetitive gripping and grasping of work related parts/tools, fine manipulation, and work with vibratory tools.
Symptoms: In addition to pain, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include numbness and tingling in the hands. These symptoms are usually felt in the first three fingers and the base of the thumb. Often the pain and other symptoms are worse at night or during sleep.
The figure below shows the parts of the hand and wrist that are involved. Tendons of the fingers, blood vessels, and the median nerve all pass through what is called the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is formed by the carpal ligament in the wrist. Swelling and steady irritation of the tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel create pressure on the median nerve.
Risk factors: The major causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are:
All of these risk factors are not necessary to get carpal tunnel syndrome. For example, VDT operators get carpal tunnel syndrome even though modem computers only require a very light force to press the keys. The awkward posture, intense keying, and lack of rest periods are more than enough to cause problems.
Prevention: Carpal tunnel syndrome can be prevented by controlling the risk factors that cause the injury. This is done through the application of ergonomics.Ergonomics means changing the work to fit the worker, rather than making the worker try to fit the work. A comprehensive ergonomics program includes the following elements:
Early and proper treatment is important for this condition. Treatment should start out conservatively with rest and physical therapy. Surgery should not be the first choice. The person's job may have to be redesigned to remove or reduce risk factors at work. Otherwise, the symptoms are likely to get worse and require surgery to relieve the pain.
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