Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment Can Ease Pain
Many people who get carpal tunnel syndrome are diagnosed as having it caused by work tasks. Careers that require repetitive hand use for hours and hours can bring on CTS. If you find that you are getting this painful and possibly debilitating condition from work, there are preventive measures that you can take that may relieve your symptoms.
Start by cutting back on the routine tasks that go hand in hand with carpal tunnel syndrome. If possible, avoid using that hand for anything, save when absolutely necessary; and this should last for at least a few days, and a week or more is strongly recommended. The aim is to release the pressure on swollen tendon sheathes, which are the root cause of the problem. If your dominant hand is the one with the wounded wrist, this can be something of a challenge.
For people who get carpal tunnel syndrome from keyboarding, there are a number of ergonomic changes you can make to your workspace. First, switch from a mouse to a trackball. More physical rehabilitation costs are incurred from using mice than any other piece of office equipment, starting from swollen bursa sacks in the elbow to tendonitis in the shoulder to carpal tunnel syndrome on the wrist. Other things to do include making your keyboard sit at the same height as the arm rests on your chairs, so that your elbows are at the same height as your wrist when you type. Ergonomic keyboards are also wrist savers, as are wrist pads at the base of the keyboard.
Even with ergonomics working in your favor, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis in the elbows and forearms can be persistent. Give yourself breaks every 40 to 50 minutes to stand up, walk around, stretch your wrists and forearms out, and to roll your shoulders. You want to stretch out the areas of the wrist before inflammation sets in and the medial nerve gets compressed again. You also want to build up blood flow in the area. The breaks also keep you from pushing yourself too hard when typing or editing. Whenever you can, massage your hands and wrists, and do some strengthening exercises.
Other things you can do include wearing a splint or brace when you sleep, or sleeping with your hand draped off the edge of the bed. You want to prevent wrist movements that could trigger more irritation and inflammation. Try this immobilization routine for a week or so and see if it gives your wrists time to recovery. Other things you might consider doing, in addition to stretching exercises, are regular heating and icing of the wrist to keep it limber.
Beyond these home remedies comes the realm of the physical therapist. There are several specialized exercises designed to strengthen the muscles around the carpal tunnels, and they're usually non invasive, though they may recommend hot wraps and compresses after the exercises to keep the muscles and tendons in the right place while new muscle tissue is built up. The ultimate goal is to get carpal tunnel syndrome to fade away on its own.
Start by cutting back on the routine tasks that go hand in hand with carpal tunnel syndrome. If possible, avoid using that hand for anything, save when absolutely necessary; and this should last for at least a few days, and a week or more is strongly recommended. The aim is to release the pressure on swollen tendon sheathes, which are the root cause of the problem. If your dominant hand is the one with the wounded wrist, this can be something of a challenge.
For people who get carpal tunnel syndrome from keyboarding, there are a number of ergonomic changes you can make to your workspace. First, switch from a mouse to a trackball. More physical rehabilitation costs are incurred from using mice than any other piece of office equipment, starting from swollen bursa sacks in the elbow to tendonitis in the shoulder to carpal tunnel syndrome on the wrist. Other things to do include making your keyboard sit at the same height as the arm rests on your chairs, so that your elbows are at the same height as your wrist when you type. Ergonomic keyboards are also wrist savers, as are wrist pads at the base of the keyboard.
Even with ergonomics working in your favor, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis in the elbows and forearms can be persistent. Give yourself breaks every 40 to 50 minutes to stand up, walk around, stretch your wrists and forearms out, and to roll your shoulders. You want to stretch out the areas of the wrist before inflammation sets in and the medial nerve gets compressed again. You also want to build up blood flow in the area. The breaks also keep you from pushing yourself too hard when typing or editing. Whenever you can, massage your hands and wrists, and do some strengthening exercises.
Other things you can do include wearing a splint or brace when you sleep, or sleeping with your hand draped off the edge of the bed. You want to prevent wrist movements that could trigger more irritation and inflammation. Try this immobilization routine for a week or so and see if it gives your wrists time to recovery. Other things you might consider doing, in addition to stretching exercises, are regular heating and icing of the wrist to keep it limber.
Beyond these home remedies comes the realm of the physical therapist. There are several specialized exercises designed to strengthen the muscles around the carpal tunnels, and they're usually non invasive, though they may recommend hot wraps and compresses after the exercises to keep the muscles and tendons in the right place while new muscle tissue is built up. The ultimate goal is to get carpal tunnel syndrome to fade away on its own.
About the Author:
Tom Nicholson has been helping those who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome find easy, effective methods of treatment for years. Let him show you some basic carpal tunnel exercises that can ease your uncomfortable symptoms. Learn what so many people already know - treatment doesn't have to be invasive or costly to make you feel better!