Friday, February 26, 2010

Can Diabetes cause carpal tunnel syndrome?

Yes, diabetes can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. When diabetes is long standing it can impair nerve function and lead to development of the carpal tunnel syndrome. High glucose levels can alter conduction and induce structural changes in nerves. It is estimated that at least 33% of diabetics have some degree of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist. Other causes of carpal tunnel include obesity, hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals who use their wrist for certain types of repetitive work are also prone to carpal tunnel syndrome. The pinched nerve causes numbness, tingling and pain in the finger, wrist and forearm.

Carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetes develops gradually and can occur even when blood sugars are in good control.

Once carpal tunnel syndrome has been diagnosed, treatment includes protecting the wrists, injecting steroids in the wrist, wearing a splint and altering the job. Surgery should be a last resort for diabetics with carpal tunnel syndrome. In simple, the results of surgery suck. Many individuals who have carpal tunnel surgery develop recurrence and are in usually in a worse shape than before.

1 comment:

  1. In diabetes, a person suffered from high blood sugar, either the body does not produce insulin or the body cells stops to respond to the insulin produced. Diabetes 3d animation can help a lot to spread awareness among people so that they can get prevented before the problem targets them.

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