"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Straws?"
The old expression "the straw that broke the camel's back" is quite
appropriate in human diseases. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disease of a
nerve usually caused by compression, a pinched nerve. if you will. The
nerves to the hand originate from the neck, move down the shoulder and
arm, and then pass through a narrow tunnel in the wrist formed by eight
carpal bones. Most of the time, when a nerve is slightly pinched, we
will not notice it at all. Only when the pressure gets to be substantial
will the symptoms of pain and tingling become more pronounced.
Many people will have slight neck problems that affect the openings
between the vertebrae in the neck that the nerves must pass. This is
called subluxation, when vertebrae move out of their normal position,
and can result from neck traumas such as whiplash or head impacts.
Many will have slight compression of the nerves in the neck but not
notice it until the nerve is further pinched at the wrist. Others will
have compression at both sites and still not notice anything unless they
use their wrist repetitively. It is known that repetitive movements of
the wrist are a risk factor (a straw) for producing carpal tunnel
syndrome.
When the musculoskeletal system is taxed through trauma, sport and even
pregnancy (Baumann, et. al. Neurol Neurophysiol Neurosci 2007;Aug 2:3),
the nerves can then show symptoms. One study looked at women in early
and late pregnancy. Eleven percent of pregnant women showed nerve
conduction signs of carpal tunnel syndrome but did not yet have
symptoms. As their pregnancies advanced, the stresses on the spine
increased and many of these patients then started showing symptoms at
the end of the pregnancy.