Has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Stopped You Reading?

Carpal Tunnel can quite literally stop us indulging in one of our favorite pastimes – Reading a book. Holding a book open sometimes for long periods of time becomes so painful that thousands of sufferers decide they have little choice but to refrain. It is often recommended that a well designed book holder is used.

This condition is a common disorder that causes pain, and interferes with the use of the hand. It is caused by pressure on the median nerve as the nerve passes through a canal formed by the bones and ligaments in the wrist (the carpal tunnel). A wide variety of conditions can cause the carpal tunnel to narrow and put pressure on the median nerve, including injuries, such as wrist fractures; arthritis complicated by swelling of the tendons in the carpal tunnel; pregnancy, which may cause the synovium around the tendons to thicken; and glandular abnormalities, such as diabetes and thyroid disorders. Work that involves repetitive wrist motions may also cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms include pain and numbness in the thumb and in the index, middle, and ring fingers. Many people wake at night with these symptoms. Some sufferers experience weakness of hand muscles and may drop objects. Symptoms often occur when the wrist is flexed during such activities as driving a car or holding a book while reading.

Doctors treat carpal tunnel syndrome by attempting to improve the underlying condition. In many cases, doctors apply a splint to the wrist and prescribe anti-inflammatory medications. In some cases, surgery is performed to relieve symptoms and to prevent permanent damage to the median nerve.

Speaking from experience there is no question that the discomfort and pain is considerable and can stop us doing the most simple tasks, but the repetitive discomfort from holding a book open that is constantly trying to close itself is a big problem. For some people reading is a major part of life both for leisure and at work and can be a favorite pastime for many.

A well designed book holder that holds the pages back firmly can be a life changing product in these circumstances and can get sufferers back to the pleasure of reading a book!