Carpall Roller

Electrodiagnostic tests analyze the electric waves of nerves and muscles. These tests can help detect median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel.

Electrodiagnostic tests are the best methods for confirming a diagnosis of CTS at this time. Doctors who perform these tests should be certified by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, which uses rigorous standards in qualifying doctors. Specific electrodiagnostic tests, called nerve conduction studies and electromyography, are the most common ones performed: Nerve conduction tests can also detect causes of symptoms that mimic CTS but are caused by other problems, such as pinched nerves in the neck or elbow, or thoracic outlet syndrome.

• Nerve Conduction Studies. To perform nerve conduction studies, surface electrodes are first fastened to the hand and wrist. Small electric shocks are then applied to the nerves in the fingers, wrist, and forearm to measure how fast a signal travels through the nerves that control movement and sensation. Nerve conduction tests are fairly accurate when done on patients with more clear-cut symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. They are less accurate in identifying mild CTS, however. Patients should be sure their practitioners perform tests that compare a number of internal responses, not just routine testing that records only the responses of muscles located in the palm at the base of the thumb. They should also make sure the tests measure responses on the second or third fingers.
• Electromyography. To perform electromyography, a fine, sterile, wire electrode is inserted briefly into a muscle, and the electrical activity is displayed on a viewing screen. Electromyography can be painful and is less accurate than nerve conduction. Some experts question, in fact, whether it adds any valuable diagnostic information. They suggest it be limited to unusual cases or when other tests indicate that the condition is aggressive and may increase the risk for rapid, significant injury.

While electrodiagnostic studies are frequently done to confirm the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with classic symptoms, they are also performed on patients with symptoms that do not point to carpal tunnel syndrome as clearly. Doctors must interpret test results in these patients more carefully.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), repetitive strain injuries are the nations most common and costly occupational health problem, affecting hundreds of thousands of American workers, and costing more than $20 billion a year in workers compensation.

Each worker compensation claim for repetitive stress injuries can cost up to $20,000 - $100,000. Consumer Watch Report, PC World.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly two-thirds of all occupational illnesses reported, were caused by exposure to repeated trauma to workers upper body ( the wrist, elbow or shoulder ). One common example of such an injury is carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome results in the highest number of days lost among all work related injuries. Almost half of the carpal tunnel cases result in 31 days or more of work loss.-National Center for Health Statistics

Median number of days away from work, by event or exposure   leading to occupational injury or illness, 2002

Event or exposure                                   Median days

Repetitive motion                                                23                                                                  

Fall to lower level                                                14

Fires and explosions                                           12

Transportation accidents                                     12                                                   

Fall on same level                                               9

Overexertion                                                       8

Slip, trip, loss of balance (without fall)                7

Assaults and violent acts by persons                  5

Contact with objects and equipment                   5

Exposure to harmful substances                        3

Presently, the costs to businesses that employ workers at high risk to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other Repetitive Stress Injuries is staggering. It is estimated that RSI "costs employers over $80 billion yearly." According to the National Council of Compensation Insurance, the average compensation of a CTS victim is $33,000.00.

Musculoskeletal disorders are the country's most costly category of workplace injuries and illnesses. In addition to spending $20 billion annually on workers' compensation costs due to RSIs, the U.S. spends another $100 billion on lost productivity, employee turnover, and other indirect expenses; The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

**The following sources are compiled from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-NIOSH.**

The U.S. Department of Labor has concluded that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the "chief occupational hazard of the 90's"-disabling workers in epidemic proportions.

Currently, more than eight million people are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome each year. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is the second most common type of musculoskeletal surgery, (back surgery is #1) with well over 230,000 procedures performed annually.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the #1 reported medical problem, accounting for about 50% of all work-related injuries

Presently, 25% of all computer operators have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, with estimates that by the year 2000, 50% of the entire workforce may be affected.

Carpal tunnel surgery has about a 57% failure rate following patients from 1-day to 6-years. At least one of the following symptoms re-occurred during this time: Pain, Numbness, Tingling sensations. Source: Nancollas, et al, J. Hand Surgery.

ONLY 23% of all carpal tunnel syndrome patients returned to their previous professions following surgery, according to the Bureau of Labor & Statistics and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health.

Many patients are undergoing multiple surgeries, which can cause complications ranging from excessive scar tissue overgrowth (re- compressing the nerve tunnel) to surgical injuries that leave the fingers totally devoid of sensation. United Press.

Up to 36% of all Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients require unlimited medical treatment.

Women are twice as likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as opposed to their male counterparts. While women account for about 45% of all workers, they experience nearly 2/3's of all work-related Repetitive Strain Injuries.

RSI

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) (also known as repetitive stress injury, repetitive motion injuries, repetitive motion disorder (RMD), cumulative trauma disorder (CT), occupational overuse syndrome, overuse syndrome, regional musculoskeletal disorder) is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous system  that may be caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression (pressing against hard surfaces), or sustained or awkward positions

Have you ever noticed the labels manufactures place on products that may cause these injuries?  Now that you have read the definition let’s talk about labeling on devices we use daily.  It may say on the bottom keyboard or in the owner’s manual that over usage may cause RSI. I am not saying don’t use these products just be sure to take preventive measures to avoid any problems.  I also read one of these when I purchased a new smart phone, being a male I never read instructions. But upon arriving home I opened a small manual that, to no surprise, was a paragraph explaining that over use of this product may cause RSI. These devises are here to stay. We all need to recognize the problem before they can occur, especially the younger generation that is exposed to repetitive use at a young age.

• Without health insurance, non-surgical treatment of carpal tunnel typically costs about $300 or less. A doctor visit would cost $200 or less, and a splint or brace costs about $20 to $40. The splint is more to be used for sleep at night. Difficult to wear these during the day for daily activities.
• Without health insurance, surgical and rehabilitation of carpal tunnel would cost about $7,000 or more per hand -- or $14,000 or more for both hands. For example, out-of-pocket cost of carpal tunnel release surgery for one hand would cost $6,928, including the hospital facility fees and the doctor fees, with an uninsured discount.  Rehabilitation generally range’s from six weeks to three months Scar tissue formation during recovery from surgery is unpredictable and sometimes results in less space in this narrow anatomical passage of the wrist after the carpal tunnel surgical procedure.
• Health insurance typically covers carpal tunnel treatment, including surgery for severe cases when conservative treatments have failed. With insurance, typical expenses would include a doctor visit co-pay of $10 to $30 or more and, for surgical treatment, coinsurance of 30 percent or more that could reach $1,000+