As the number of computers and their users burgeons across the world (an Internet guesstimate put the total number of computer users in 2007 at around 900 million), so do the cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), a medical condition which manifests as acute pain or numbness of the wrist, fingers or forearm. It is caused by the swelling of membranes, which in turn compresses a nerve in the forearm and is frequently found in those suffering from hypothyroidism.
Despite a lot of research over the years, doctors and endocrinologists have been largely unaware about any correlation between these two seemingly unconnected disorders.
Until recently, despite much research on the subject, many doctors and endocrinologists have not been generally aware of the connection between carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and hypothyroidism. Quite often, surgery is resorted to for cases which fail to respond to physical therapy - however, this can be avoided if their thyroid disorders, if any, are taken care of first.
It has been seen that the symptoms exhibited by an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can often mirror those of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. However, hypothyroidism is not easy to diagnose - in case a patient's Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels appear normal, heath care professionals usually decide that this disorder is absent. On the contrary, as per some clinical studies, quite a few CTS patients who had all their levels checked and were diagnosed with ‘subclinical hypothroid’ were given more conservative treatments which relieved them of CTS without resorting to expensive and unnecessary surgery.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be treated by:
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Wearing a wrist brace for keeping the wrist unbent, to reduce compression of the median nerve
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Anti-inflammatory drugs
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Exercising
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Altering office ergonomics
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Surgery
No hormone in the human body is perhaps as important as the thyroid in that it promotes the generation of cellular energy - the production or secretion of all other hormones will be affected when the levels of thyroid hormone fall. The butterfly - shaped thyroid gland is located in the lower neck and secretes two hormones, viz., triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) which deliver energy to the body cells.
Hypothyroidism or thyroid deficiency occurs in the following instances:
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when the thyroid gland turns inactive or is not formed properly at birth
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when the thyroid gland is removed all or in part
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when it is not capable of generating thyroid hormone in sufficient quantities
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when a person suffers from Hashimoto’s disease (where antibodies destroy the ability of the thyroid gland to secrete thyroid hormone)
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include
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Slowing down of the metabolic rate
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Tiredness
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Weight gain
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Depression, etc.
How can hypothyroidism be treated?
Generic levothroid is one of the most common drugs used to treat hypothyroidism. It is a thyroid hormone replacement drug and is also used to address thyroid diseases like goiter, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, etc.
Generic levothroid is an oral medication which should be taken once a day, before breakfast. Its side effects may include nervousness, sweating, headache, diarrhea and insomnia.
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