Alleviating the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Did you know that 3.1% of the population has had carpal tunnel syndrome within the past twelve months? If you work long hours with your hands, then odds are you’ll struggle with this condition during your lifetime.

Sadly, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome often make everyday work tasks unbearable. So, what are some ways to ease these symptoms?

If you want to learn the answer to this question, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about living with carpal tunnel syndrome. Let’s get started!

What Are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Before we learn about how to ease the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s important to first learn exactly what the symptoms are.

This syndrome occurs when the median nerve that runs along your forearm and through your carpal tunnel becomes either pinched or compressed. The most common symptom when this happens is a numbness or tingling sensation.

This typically affects the hands and fingers (except for the little finger). You will probably notice this sensation crawling up your arm when you’re doing an activity like steering a car wheel or holding your phone. Sometimes this numbness can go away when you shake it. But, if you leave it untreated for too long, then it can become constant. It’s also common to experience weakness in your hands, or have difficulty for you to grab and hold on to objects.

The last symptom is pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes inflammation that affects the nerves. If it gets bad enough, then this pain can impede daily activities. Now let’s inspect how you can ease these symptoms.

1. Ice It Frequently

It’s well known that topical icing is a great way to reduce inflammation in conditions and injuries. So, it makes sense that it helps reduce some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The ice should help reduce some of the pain in your wrist temporarily. Plus, the increased blood flow helps keep any swelling in your tendons down. You can either ice your wrist using a bag, or you can take an ice bath.

Just make sure to keep it in contact for no longer than ten to fifteen minutes. You can do this once or twice an hour.

2. Wear Wrist Splints

Often, carpal tunnel syndrome can be worsened by movement in our sleep. A wrist splint can help with this, and it also prevents you from flexing or overextending. You can also wear it during the day if you want to keep your wrist properly aligned.

If you’re pregnant and suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, this is a good option since you can’t take certain medications.

3. Inject Corticosteroids

Your healthcare provider may recommend injecting corticosteroids into the area to treat some symptoms. Corticosteroids are an anti-inflammatory drug that reduces swelling in the wrist. It also forces your wrist to stay still while you sleep.

This helps take some pressure off of the median nerve. Oral corticosteroids won’t work with carpal tunnel. Instead, your provider will probably use an ultrasound to inject precisely into the affected area.

4. Warm Water

Warm water might sound simple, but it can bring some lasting relief throughout the day. You can either immerse your hand and forearm under the water, or you can take a hot bath.

Make sure the water is between ninety-two degrees to one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Then, as you hold your arm under, flex it four to five times. It’s helpful to do this as much as three to four times per day.

5. Pain Management Treatment

Sometimes carpal tunnel syndrome can be so painful that it leads to a lower overall quality of life. If you fall into this category, consider pain management treatment for your syndrome.

This method seeks to use alternatives to pain medication to fight this discomfort. For example, some pain management treatments use things like:

• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Aromatherapy
• Meditation
• Chiropractor
• Physical therapy doctors
• Nutritional guidelines

Keep in mind that these treatments are used along with conventional medicine to improve your overall quality of life.

No two treatments work for everyone, so you’ll have to discover which work for your needs. If you want to learn more, you can check out our guide here.

6. Ergonomic Changes

If you work at your computer all day, then your equipment might worsen your work-related injuries.

Consider investing in chairs, keyboards, and mouses specifically made for people with carpal tunnel syndrome. This can reduce symptoms and slow the worsening of the condition.

When Should You Consider Surgery?

If you’ve tried everything and nothing is working, consider surgery for your carpal tunnel syndrome. The first step is to find an orthopedic physician.

If you visit the Injury Care Center, we can easily refer you to a specialist if other options aren’t working. The specialist will help you decide if an operation is the best course of action.

Usually, there are two options to choose from. The first is the less invasive endoscopic surgery, while the other is the more intensive open surgery.

Need Help With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Contact Injury Care Center

We hope this article helped you learn how to treat some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you find home methods aren’t working for your symptoms, it’s important to seek professional help.

Here at the Injury Care Center, we believe people are entitled to the help they need. That’s why we’ll do everything in our power to help with your condition.

And, if we can’t help, we’ll refer you to specialists that can. Contact us today if you want the carpal tunnel treatment that you deserve.