Many people suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome to some degree. They may experience tingling in their fingers or numbness or pain in their hand and wrist. This can range from annoying to very painful. Many people end up missing work due to the severity of their symptoms. Surgical treatment is reserved for the most advanced cases, and it means several months of recovery when you might need to be off work. This is why most doctors recommend non-surgical treatment first.
If you believe that you are seeing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, you need to make sure that you see your doctor as soon as possible. They will proceed by checking pain levels when your wrists are flexed or rotated, and they will also check for fine motor control and nerve sensitivity. A positive diagnosis means a start in treating it.
It is worth noticing that if your doctor finds diabetes or arthritis that these issues should be addressed first, as carpal tunnel at that point is a symptom, not the issue at hand.
The first way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome is through rest. You are going to need to thoroughly rest your wrists for upwards of two weeks, and you need to stay away from activities that make the condition worse. This may mean that you have to stay away from computers, from sewing or even your job. Ask your workplace for alternative work to alleviate the stress.
One thing that can help you is the use of a wrist brace. Using a brace to keep your wrist steady can help your wrist have time to heal, and you can get one from the pharmacy or even have one custom made at a physical therapist. You may find that you get the most use from it when you are sleeping or by wearing it when you are awake. In either case, it can be far better than nothing at all.
If inflammation is something that your doctor found during the examination, you may be told to to take NSAIDS to bring down the swelling and the pain. Ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen are all drugs that fall under the NSAIDS category and can be obtained over the counter. Depending on your case, diuretics might also be used, as might corticosteroid injections like lidocaine and predisone, which can provide temporary relief. People who have diabetes or who are predisposed to suffer such should always be careful about the drugs that might affect their ability to process insulin. Some studies do suggest that vitamin B6 can help ease the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and you'll find that ice packs can also take down swelling.
Some people prefer to look into alternative therapies like chiropractic care and acupuncture, which can be quite effective. Yoga is also an activity that can improve your grip strength will cutting back on your pain. Also make sure that you check the local practitioners carefully and that you find the ones that suit you best.
Once you've dealt with the pain issues, stretching and exercise is very effective at keeping the carpal tunnel free from compression. You may need to meet with a physical therapist who can teach you the exercises. In some cases, you may need to do a course of treatment with a physical therapist.
If you believe that you are seeing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, you need to make sure that you see your doctor as soon as possible. They will proceed by checking pain levels when your wrists are flexed or rotated, and they will also check for fine motor control and nerve sensitivity. A positive diagnosis means a start in treating it.
It is worth noticing that if your doctor finds diabetes or arthritis that these issues should be addressed first, as carpal tunnel at that point is a symptom, not the issue at hand.
The first way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome is through rest. You are going to need to thoroughly rest your wrists for upwards of two weeks, and you need to stay away from activities that make the condition worse. This may mean that you have to stay away from computers, from sewing or even your job. Ask your workplace for alternative work to alleviate the stress.
One thing that can help you is the use of a wrist brace. Using a brace to keep your wrist steady can help your wrist have time to heal, and you can get one from the pharmacy or even have one custom made at a physical therapist. You may find that you get the most use from it when you are sleeping or by wearing it when you are awake. In either case, it can be far better than nothing at all.
If inflammation is something that your doctor found during the examination, you may be told to to take NSAIDS to bring down the swelling and the pain. Ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen are all drugs that fall under the NSAIDS category and can be obtained over the counter. Depending on your case, diuretics might also be used, as might corticosteroid injections like lidocaine and predisone, which can provide temporary relief. People who have diabetes or who are predisposed to suffer such should always be careful about the drugs that might affect their ability to process insulin. Some studies do suggest that vitamin B6 can help ease the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and you'll find that ice packs can also take down swelling.
Some people prefer to look into alternative therapies like chiropractic care and acupuncture, which can be quite effective. Yoga is also an activity that can improve your grip strength will cutting back on your pain. Also make sure that you check the local practitioners carefully and that you find the ones that suit you best.
Once you've dealt with the pain issues, stretching and exercise is very effective at keeping the carpal tunnel free from compression. You may need to meet with a physical therapist who can teach you the exercises. In some cases, you may need to do a course of treatment with a physical therapist.
About the Author:
What makes carpal tunnel syndrome a repetitive stress disorder? It is a RSD in that it is caused by performing reptitive motion, such as typing, or working on an assembly line repeating the same action over and over again. There are many different types of treatment in trying to relieve the pain of CTS, but one easy, effective treatment is simply practicing carpal tunnel syndrome exercises.
