howes@unc.UUCP (07/10/84)
I have recently been diagnosed as having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
a compression of the median nerve by the carpal bones in the wrist.
The symptoms are a loss of sensation in the thumb, index and middle
fingers of the hand. In my case this (fortunately) involves only
the tips, but in extreme cases it can involve the entire thumb side
of the hand, cause considerable pain and lead to loss of motor func-
tion. Fortunately, the condition is not permanent and I have a nifty
brace to wear on my wrist and hand for the next two months.
This would normally not be of interest save that the doctor informed
me that they had been seeing a great deal of this recently, as it
is an occupational hazard of waiters, truck drivers, typists and...
computer programmers. All of my bad typing habits (resting my arm or
hand while typing and bending my wrist) have caught up with me!
Further, apparently all of my doctor bills will be paid by workman's
comp.
Question: Does anyone know more about this, how it can be avoided or,
in my case, any treatment which might speed healing. While not
painful (precisely the opposite, in fact) this is definitely cramping
my lifestyle.
--
Byron Howes
UNC - Chapel Hill
({decvax,akgua}!mcnc!unc!howes)chris@byucsa.UUCP (Chris J. Grevstad) (07/12/84)
<> You are quite fortunate. Some people require surgery to correct the size of the carpal tunnel. In my case, I elected not to have it done, as it was not too severe. It is not necessarily an occupational hazard, though. Some folks are just born with constricted space for the nerves in the wrist. -- Chris Grevstad "Affection is a noble quality; It leads to generosity and jollity. But it also leads to breach of promise If you go around lavishing it on red-hot momise."
tjm@ihuxs.UUCP (tjm) (07/12/84)
I had operations on both wrists last year to release the pressure. Some months after, several sources indicated that vitamin B-6 was useful in treating carpal tunnel syndrome. I wish I could have tried that first, maybe you can. Best wishes Tim Mahar
donch@teklabs.UUCP (Don Chitwood) (07/13/84)
An article appeared in PREVENTION magazine over a year ago that reported relief from symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome using vitamin B-6 orally. I don't recall the dosage, but I know you can take too much. The mechanism for the relief was not known, as I recall. Don Chitwood teklabs!donch Imaging Research Labs Tektronix, Inc.
wmartin@brl-tgr.UUCP (07/18/84)
Can we have some posted suggestions and discussion about how to PREVENT Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from appearing, whether or not we happen to have a natural/genetic predisposition to get it? From the discussion, it would seem that your style of typing is an important factor, and resting the wrist is bad, but what should we look for to avoid developing this condition? I would think that such measurements as height of elbows in relation to height of keyboard, which determines the angle your forearms are held at, would be important, but I have no idea what is good and what is bad. Will
dcm@wlbr.UUCP (08/08/84)
I am somewhat new to the network and this is the first I have heard of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Exactly what is it and what are it's symptoms? Also, does anyone know what causes it? dcm (dave miller @ Eaton / bunker Ramo) ..!scgvaxd!wlbr!dcm
howes@unc.UUCP (Byron Howes ) (08/23/84)
In answer to the question what is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, what causes
it and what are its symptoms ---
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a tightening of the connective tissue which
forms the roof of the Carpal Tunnel in the wrist such that the Median
Nerve, the nerve which transmits signals to the thumb, index, middle
and part of the ring finger, is compressed. The symptoms are numbness
or pain in those fingers. In extreme cases there can be intense pain
and loss of motor control. Notions about what cause it vary, but it
can be anything from the beginning stages of arthritis, inflammation
after injury to the wrist or genetic predisposition. Treatment is
partial immobilization in mild cases, steroid injections into the
wrist in more severe cases and surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve.
It is apparently a fairly common condition and is an occupational hazard
among people who use their hands a great deal in their work. If you
use a terminal regularly, make sure that it is at correct typing
height and not on your desk or on a desk high table. If you are given
to resting your arms on your desk -- don't! The improper backward
flex in the wrist over a sufficient length of time may bring on the
condition if you are predisposed to it.
--
Byron Howes
UNC - Chapel Hill
({decvax,akgua}!mcnc!unc!howes)emmyl@azure.UUCP (Emmy Lou Roe) (05/09/85)
I recently found my long-lost copy of the paper which appeared in
"Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology",
Vol.13, No.4, April, 1976, concerning the treatment of Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome with vitamin B6.
The suggested dosage is 300 mg. daily for 4-6 weeks.
I was diagnosed as having Carpal Tunnel some years ago and went
to the University of Oregon Medical School library to see what I
could find out about it. I was a candidate for surgery, but decided
to try the B6 therapy instead. It worked for me, but I took B6
for a longer time. I don't think I am completely free of all the
symtoms, but free enough so the only thing I notice is slight
numbness of one or the other hand at night, depending on position.
When it seems to be getting a little worse, I start the B6 again for
a week or so.
I also read Adele Davis and should pass this along, for what it's worth.
Davis says you should not take one of the B vitamins by itself without
taking B complex at the same time. (I didn't worry about the extra
B6 in the B complex.)
I think you could get a copy of this article (paper) by going to
the medical school library and requesting that particular periodical.
In case it's too old now, here's are the names and addresses of the
co-authors:
John M. Ellis
103 W. 20th St.
Mt Pleasant, Texas 75455
Takeo Kishi, Junichi Azuma, Karl Folkers
Institute for Biomedical Research
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712
The actual name of the article is:
Vitamin B6 Deficiency in Patients with a
Clinical Syndrome Including the Carpal
Tunnel Defect.
Biochemical and Clinical Response to Therapy
with Pyridoxine.