Veronica Manarang
Med 2047
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Instructor Michelle Earixson-Lamothe
3/12/2015
VNFT031
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The musculoskeletal system is the structure that provides a person the ability to move. Repetitive stress injuries, overuse and many more can cause disorders, Muscu-loskeletal Disorders or MSDs. Musculoskeletal disorders affect the muscles, bones lig-aments, and tendons. There are various reasons that contribute to MSDs. Carpal Tun-nel Syndrome is one the most frequent musculoskeletal disorder. It may interfere with hand strength and sensation, which can cause a decrease in hand function. There is a group of fibrous tissues that surround the wrist, which typically functions as a support …show more content…
1). Many of these patients do not experience all three factors that are used to diagnose CTS. These factors include the classic symp-toms, particular physical findings, and abnormal test results from an electrodiagnostic test. The first step in diagnosing CTS is ruling out other underlying medical disorders. It is emphasized that the need to attain patients’ personal and work history is essential in diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. About 25 percent of patients that present these symptoms have work related issues. Not knowing about the patient's work history can lead to a misdiagnosis and wrong treatments. If the doctor assumes that the patient may have an underlying medical condition, a laboratory test will be taken. Test related to thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis may be considered, as well as x-rays to con-firm if the patient is experiencing any fractures. “Conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and osteoarthritis, can cause pain in the hands and fingers that may mimic carpal tunnel disease. Though the treatment for these conditions, however, is different,” (A.D.A.M, 2013, para. 5). It is a significant step to rule out these conditions before diagnosing a patient. Findings in a physical assessment test used to diagnose CTS is having less sensitivity to pain(through the median nerve and fingers), thumb weakness, and the inability to disclose between one or two sharp points on the fingertips(late indication of CTS). In testing for thumb weakness, a patient would be asked to raise their thumb directly. Another important yet simple test that is used to dispose of CTS is the “Flick Signal” test. In other words, a patient would be asked what they do whenever the symptoms worsen. “Responding with a motion that resembles shaking a thermometer, then the
Med 2047
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Instructor Michelle Earixson-Lamothe
3/12/2015
VNFT031
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The musculoskeletal system is the structure that provides a person the ability to move. Repetitive stress injuries, overuse and many more can cause disorders, Muscu-loskeletal Disorders or MSDs. Musculoskeletal disorders affect the muscles, bones lig-aments, and tendons. There are various reasons that contribute to MSDs. Carpal Tun-nel Syndrome is one the most frequent musculoskeletal disorder. It may interfere with hand strength and sensation, which can cause a decrease in hand function. There is a group of fibrous tissues that surround the wrist, which typically functions as a support …show more content…
1). Many of these patients do not experience all three factors that are used to diagnose CTS. These factors include the classic symp-toms, particular physical findings, and abnormal test results from an electrodiagnostic test. The first step in diagnosing CTS is ruling out other underlying medical disorders. It is emphasized that the need to attain patients’ personal and work history is essential in diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. About 25 percent of patients that present these symptoms have work related issues. Not knowing about the patient's work history can lead to a misdiagnosis and wrong treatments. If the doctor assumes that the patient may have an underlying medical condition, a laboratory test will be taken. Test related to thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis may be considered, as well as x-rays to con-firm if the patient is experiencing any fractures. “Conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and osteoarthritis, can cause pain in the hands and fingers that may mimic carpal tunnel disease. Though the treatment for these conditions, however, is different,” (A.D.A.M, 2013, para. 5). It is a significant step to rule out these conditions before diagnosing a patient. Findings in a physical assessment test used to diagnose CTS is having less sensitivity to pain(through the median nerve and fingers), thumb weakness, and the inability to disclose between one or two sharp points on the fingertips(late indication of CTS). In testing for thumb weakness, a patient would be asked to raise their thumb directly. Another important yet simple test that is used to dispose of CTS is the “Flick Signal” test. In other words, a patient would be asked what they do whenever the symptoms worsen. “Responding with a motion that resembles shaking a thermometer, then the