If you are going through the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome, then you are probably hoping for an effective treatment so that you can go about your normal daily activities free of pain. The numb, tingly, painful sensations that mark this condition can be nothing more than a mild nuisance, all the way up to severe pain. You'll be glad to know, however, that there are a number of treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome.
There are many ways to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Since carpal tunnel syndrome can be associated with other underlying causes, your doctor will do some tests for illnesses like arthritis, low thyroid functioning and other issues.
If they find one of these conditions, the first step will be arranging treatment for them. If there is any existing inflammation of the surrounding tissues in your wrist, your doctor will prescribe NSAIDS or other medications that will help the swelling go down. Sometimes just reducing the swelling will relieve the sensations you are feeling as the nerve gets more space.
Your doctor will make a thorough examination to get to the root cause of your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. You can discuss with your doctor the activities you regularly perform in order to come up with a plan in case you need to make adjustments to your daily routine to let your wrist heal. You'll also learn prevention strategies to keep the problem from flaring up in the future.
It's important to treat the condition to avoid permanent nerve damage. If you have experienced a loss of muscle strength in your hand, you will be given an exercise regimen to help rebuild strength after you have gotten relief from your symptoms.
Some people only need to wear their brace at night, while others also find relief if they wear it during the day as well. Some people will receive injections of corticosteroids to relieve pain and swelling. While they can be very good for pain relief, if you have diabetes, you should be cautious not to have too many.
In most cases, you will be advised to adjust your activities and avoid tasks that may exacerbate your symptoms. If you cannot avoid these activities entirely, you'll need to take breaks often so that your wrists get rest from the continual strain.
After you've been on your treatment routine for several weeks, your doctor may want to follow up with you to check on the progress of your symptoms. If you notice that your painful symptoms are diminishing, chances are you'll continue with the same treatment regimen. If you are getting worse, you may be referred for further testing; your doctor may want to discuss the possibility of surgery to correct the problem.
The surgical approach to this condition is called carpal tunnel release surgery. It works by cutting the ligament that makes up the top of the canal through which your median nerve runs. This relieves the pressure on the nerve to alleviate your symptoms. The surgery has a high success rate in relieving the pain, but if you have experienced permanent nerve damage, you may have some residual pain or numbness. You'll need to rest your wrist completely for several weeks after the surgery.
You may also want to see about physical therapy to treat the problem.
There are many ways to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Since carpal tunnel syndrome can be associated with other underlying causes, your doctor will do some tests for illnesses like arthritis, low thyroid functioning and other issues.
If they find one of these conditions, the first step will be arranging treatment for them. If there is any existing inflammation of the surrounding tissues in your wrist, your doctor will prescribe NSAIDS or other medications that will help the swelling go down. Sometimes just reducing the swelling will relieve the sensations you are feeling as the nerve gets more space.
Your doctor will make a thorough examination to get to the root cause of your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. You can discuss with your doctor the activities you regularly perform in order to come up with a plan in case you need to make adjustments to your daily routine to let your wrist heal. You'll also learn prevention strategies to keep the problem from flaring up in the future.
It's important to treat the condition to avoid permanent nerve damage. If you have experienced a loss of muscle strength in your hand, you will be given an exercise regimen to help rebuild strength after you have gotten relief from your symptoms.
Some people only need to wear their brace at night, while others also find relief if they wear it during the day as well. Some people will receive injections of corticosteroids to relieve pain and swelling. While they can be very good for pain relief, if you have diabetes, you should be cautious not to have too many.
In most cases, you will be advised to adjust your activities and avoid tasks that may exacerbate your symptoms. If you cannot avoid these activities entirely, you'll need to take breaks often so that your wrists get rest from the continual strain.
After you've been on your treatment routine for several weeks, your doctor may want to follow up with you to check on the progress of your symptoms. If you notice that your painful symptoms are diminishing, chances are you'll continue with the same treatment regimen. If you are getting worse, you may be referred for further testing; your doctor may want to discuss the possibility of surgery to correct the problem.
The surgical approach to this condition is called carpal tunnel release surgery. It works by cutting the ligament that makes up the top of the canal through which your median nerve runs. This relieves the pressure on the nerve to alleviate your symptoms. The surgery has a high success rate in relieving the pain, but if you have experienced permanent nerve damage, you may have some residual pain or numbness. You'll need to rest your wrist completely for several weeks after the surgery.
You may also want to see about physical therapy to treat the problem.
About the Author:
Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel, rather than a problem with the nerve itself. If you think you might be developing from CTS, click on this link to learn some simple carpal tunnel exercises that can help stop the progression of CTS and relieve current pain.
