Essay On Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Countless people around the world suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Or in other words, a numbness and tingling in the hand and arm caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist. Many citizens believe that the issue of Carpal Tunnel Syndrom may be a personal problem. Although, in reality it is a major political issue. Many workers miss days at a time because of the pain that working brings.
“The median nerve runs from your forearm through a passageway in your wrist (carpal tunnel) to your hand. It provides sensation to the palm side of your thumb and fingers, with the exception of your little finger. It also provides nerve signals to move the muscles around the base of your thumb (motor function). Anything that crowds, irritates or compresses the median nerve in the carpal tunnel space can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome” (Mayo Clinic Staff). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can worsen if the wrist is overextended (the Healthline Editorial Team). Alternatively, carpal tunnel can be a symptom of disease that has an impairment listing. “Examples of
possible listed impairment that could cause, or are related to, carpal tunnel may include diabetes, arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and kidney failure” (Netter).

Any job that requires fast repetitive movement could cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrom.
Some examples of these jobs are: postal workers, bakers, waiters, musicians, dentists, computer users, typists, and many more jobs (Chirotrust). “Women are three times more likely to have carpal tunnel syndrome than men. Carpal tunnel syndrome is most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 60” (The Healthline Editorial Team).“Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers” (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fact Sheet). Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve compression syndrome, affecting about 3 to 6 percent of adults in the general population (LeBlanc).“Earlier SHARP research showed that workers' compensation costs for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) were among the highest of all injuries or illnesses” (A-Z
Topic).
Because of Carpal Tunnel Syndrom and the difficulties of grasping and holding, there is an increase of risk for dropping heavier objects. So this is especially hard for waiters holding trays piled with food. “Repetitive strain injuries (RSI's) like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are costing consumers, private business and insurance companies more than $100 billion in lost revenue each year” (Anliker). Which also means that workers are missing work to ease the pain caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. “In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor says carpal tunnel syndrome is the cause of nearly half of all missed work time” (Siegfried). Because of the missed work time caused by the Carpal Tunnel Syndrom, it is not just a personal problem anymore, but also an economic issue.
Most waiters at resturaunts have Carpal Tunnel Syndrom caused by carrying trays brimming with food and beverages. To fix that problem, first I will go into a resturaunt and ask the manager to interview some waiters if they have Carpal Tunnel Syndrom and how often it hurts when they hold they tray filled with customers meals. I will also ask how they approach the problem and if the solution they use works. After asking the waiters the questions, I will then give them the regular tray they usually use and how it feels filled with food and a few beverages. Once they explain to me how it feels, I will give them a suspended tray topped with the same amount of food and beverages and then ask them if this tecnique feels better than the first. This experiment will help waiters feel less pain when serving food to their costomers which will increase work attendance and decrease chance of dropping heavier objects.