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Common Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

30 / 06 / 21

Throughout all our lives we have become accustomed to taking certain parts of the body for granted. For example, we use our hands and wrist everyday and we don’t realise how important they are to us until we begin to develop issues in these areas. So, here is a list of causes of carpal tunnel syndrome – a very common hand condition.

 

Cooking

When you’re cooking in the kitchen, you always have to make sure that you are responsible as there are many ways you can potentially injure yourself. Ensuring you don’t burn or accidentally cut yourself is the main priority whilst you cook, however, it’s not just that you need to be wary of in the kitchen. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common hand condition that is caused whilst cooking and this is constantly overlooked. The majority of people shrug this off, but only when it’s too late – which is why it’s crucial to get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible if you begin to start having problems with your hands.

The main symptom of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome you need to be aware of is constant pins and needle sensations. We all can feel this from time to time, however if this begins to occur quite often and it feels very uncomfortable then this is a very good sign that you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Fortunately, the condition is treatable but it is best to get it seen by a doctor sooner rather than later in case it worsens. There are a few carpal tunnel treatment options you could receive, firstly, a cortisone injection can give some relief in conditions where acute inflammation is the main cause, however it often has a temporary effect and will not be beneficial for you in the long term.

Doctor checking patients hand

Gaming

Growing up, some children seem oblivious to the fact that they could potentially have an injury. This shouldn’t be the case, as it’s very common for kids to develop or cause an injury due to their immaturity and also young age. It’s very common in today’s society for kids to be playing video games and there isn’t anything wrong with that – however, playing too much won’t just affect their eyes.

Gaming is one of the main causes for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, as when you’re constantly glued to the controller this makes gamers susceptible to the condition. Because they’re repeating the same motions constantly, this then begins to cause stress within the hands, and adult gamers are more prone to developing this syndrome too as they’re more exposed than kids.

It’s crucial for gamers of all ages to take breaks from their video games, as one it will ease the stress on your eyes, and two, your hands will have breathing space to be normal again. It can be difficult for kids to speak aloud if they’re struggling with a hand condition, so it’s important parents monitor their child and if you spot anything suspicious – get in touch with your doctor.

person playing a game on the laptop

Construction

Another environment which is easy to pick-up an injury, is a construction site. Because you’re constantly working with tools that can be harmful, there are many safety procedures all workers will have to follow. But what workers are not told, is the effects that will occur when you repeatedly perform a certain motion.

For example, if you’re using a certain tool for a long period of time, your hand or wrist will become strained, and once this starts to happen – injuries are not too far away. High powered equipment such as jackhammers or power saws can cause some damage as the tools give off severe vibrations. 

The vibrations can potentially cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as you can feel a constant pins and needle sensation in your hands, and this is a common symptom in relation to this condition. However, this can also hide the fact you have the condition as you may think you only have pins and needles because of the powered equipment you have just used – this is wrong!

If you’re working in this industry, it’s crucial that if you begin to feel this symptom that you get it looked at by a doctor, because if you don’t the condition can worsen over time. The longer you leave this untreated then the fewer the treatment offers there will be, so get in touch with your doctor now.

 

Sewing 

From afar, sewing might seem like a simple activity to do, but in reality it’s actually a very technical thing to do, and with this skill an injury is not far behind. Typically some people can sew for hours and while this might be impressive because of the end product, this is not necessarily good for your wrist.

Because you’re constantly sewing in the same position, this can cause repetitive stress onto your wrist and if you’re an elderly person doing this, you are more at risk due to the fragile nature of the body. Yes this might be a soothing and relaxing activity, but it’s also lethal as it can cause you to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

A condition like this brewing when you’re an elderly person is not beneficial as the body at an old age can struggle to combat this issue. So, if you would like to keep sewing at an old age then we highly suggest that you take breaks constantly so that your hands and wrist don’t become stiff or rigid. 

Finally, if you feel like you’re beginning to experience a pins and needle sensation in your hands or wrist and it’s painful, then we urge you to see a doctor promptly. The quicker you get it checked, the quicker there will be a treatment for you that can fix the condition!

We hope you enjoyed reading our latest blog on the common causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If you have found this blog beneficial for you, then please get in touch.

 




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