- carpal tunnel syndrome
This is caused by pressure on the median nerve as it passes from the
forearm into the hand within the firm walled carpal tunnel. The
pressure produces a tingling, numbness or discomfort in the radial
fingers (outer three and a half digits) and there is a feeling of
clumsiness in carrying out fine movements such as those involved in
sewing. The symptoms and signs vary with the degree and duration of the
compression of the median nerve. It is thought that repeated flexion
and extension at the wrist - as is common in various work related
activities - can cause fluid to accumulate and put pressure on the
median nerve causing the typical carpal tunnel syndrome. There are
however, other causes of neurological disturbances in the hand
including those arising in the neck, from interference with the
brachial plexus, and lesions of the median nerve elsewhere in its
anatomical course. Such diseases as muscular dystrophy and
syringomyelia may also cause similar neurological disturbance.
- cervical spondylosis
This is osteoarthritis of the cervical spine. Degenerative changes in
the cervical spine are very common and although they may be due to
injury - such as whiplash - they are most commonly due to the aging
process. The condition is often symptomless, but it may be a cause of
aching pain in the neck or trapezium muscles. Less often there is
pressure on the nerve roots leading to radiating pain along the course
of the affected nerve or nerves and to 'tingling' or ‘pins or needles'
in the hand.
- cmc joint
Carpometacarpal joint.
- cognitive therapy
A type of psychological therapy practised in some pain clinics which
can allow patients to come to terms with, and accept, chronic pain.
- compensation
An award made by a court in compensation for, amongst other things,
personal injury sustained as a result of occupational activities.
- compensation neurosis
This is also known as 'accident neurosis' or 'litigation neurosis'
terms which reflect the view that patients adapt or exaggerate their
symptoms, and physical signs if they are present, in an effort to
increase the possibility of compensation - or to gain in some other
manner.
- constitutional
This is a term used when a medical condition is thought not to be due
to an occupational factor but due to some physical or physiological
characteristic specific to the person concerned which makes them more
vulnerable than normal to a precipitating factor. This may indeed be
true, as a group of workers exposed to the same adverse working
conditions may respond in quite different ways, reflecting the inherent
variability of mankind. Alternatively, a constitutional factor may
bring about a more exacerbated response to an occupational situation.
On the other hand the phrase 'constitutional' may be used when the
medical practitioner is inexperienced or prejudiced.
- constructive dismissal
A case for constructive dismissal could be made if an employer failed
to respond to complaints about, for example, unsatisfactory working
conditions thus causing a work related upper limb disorder which led to
the employee having to give up work.
- conversion disorder
This is one of the vague psychological terms used, and often in a very
unspecific way, to describe the psychological responses to WRULDS.
- conversion hysteria
A diagnosis which was put forward in Australia to explain the symptoms
of what later became known as 'RSI'. It was used in the UK in 1998 in
the Pickford v. ICI Action but it was proved at trial that this medical
phenomenon only arises where the individual has knowledge of the risks
of RSI.
- craft palsy or craft
cramps
These are the old names of some of the conditions which today would be
called work related upper limb disorders or overuse syndromes.
- cramp of the hand
A prescribed industrial disease (A4). See Clinical Syndromes.
- crepitus
When palpating over a tendon a grating feeling and tenderness is
indicative of inflammation within the synovial sheath, i.e.
tenosynovitis.
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