[CQ-Contest] carpal tunnel

[Alan Braun]

As an MD (rheumatologist-arthritis specialist) I get asked to deal with 
this fairly commonly. Carpal tunnel will cause numbness, especially at 
night, and especially in a hand which is repeatedly used for computer 
type work. The main symptom is numbness in the thumb, index, middle and 
(part of) ring finger, on the palm side not the back side. There are 4 
ways to treat the problem:
1. Avoidance of the causative activity
2. Wrist splint - most pharmacies sell these, ask them for a carpal 
tunnel splint. Wear it at night and whenever it isn't going to be in the 
way of daily activities. Works 50-60% of the time
3. Cortisone injection into the wrist from the palm side. This is a 
little tricky as it is dangerous to inject one of the tendons - 
hopefully a doc who is willing to do this knows what he's doing! Works 
75% of the time, usually good for 3 months. The guy who said his went 
away for 10 yrs is definitely the exception!
4. Surgery - works 98% of the time, is usually (BUT NOT ALWAYS) a 
permanent fix.

Hopefully this will help someone.

Alan NS0B


K4BEV at aol.com wrote:
>  
> In a message dated 1/28/06 8:02:48 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
> simon at hb9drv.ch writes:
>
> Today  there is hardly any excuse.
>
>
> Maybe not, but I suffered with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from 15 years of  
> typing computer code - and I'm NOT a female.
> A shot of Cortisone and a couple of weeks later it was GONE. 10 years later  
> I still don't have any problems with my wrist.
> Talk to your doctor- This is way better than surgery, if it works for  you.
>  
> 73, Don - K4BEV 
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