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Nonsurgical Remedies for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury that affects the wrists. The carpal tunnel is a passage in the wrist that is made of bone and the carpal ligament. Tendons and the median nerve pass through the carpal tunnel into the hand. When the carpal tunnel becomes inflamed, it compresses the median nerve, which results in the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

  1. Symptoms

    • People who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome can experience numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and wrist that may extend up the arm to the shoulder. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also cause weakness in the hand and difficulty gripping objects such as a steering wheel or a door handle. The severity of the symptoms can vary from mild to intense, depending on the individual. Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause permanent nerve damage if untreated, so if you have any of these symptoms, they should be evaluated by a physician.

    Wearing Splints

    • Repeated movements of the wrist cause inflammation in the carpal tunnel. Wearing a wrist splint prevents the wrist from flexing, which can help reduce the inflammation. Immobilizing the wrist can reduce symptoms and, if worn during trigger activities, can prevent a flare-up in the future. In addition, many people flex their wrists in their sleep. If you wear your wrist braces at night, it can prevent numbness and pain when you wake up in the morning. Storing the wrist braces in the freezer between uses can help relieve pain as soon as you put them on as well.

    Taking Medication

    • A physician will commonly recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, reduce the swelling of the carpal tunnel, which helps relieve the pain. A doctor may also inject cortisone into your wrist as a temporary measure to reduce swelling.

    Resting

    • The swelling that causes the pain and numbness of carpal tunnel syndrome is typically the result of the repetition of a particular type of movement in the wrist. People who work on assembly lines, or other jobs that require the same movement over and over, are prone to having this type of injury. In order to stop irritating the carpal tunnel, you may need to reduce or eliminate the movement that is causing the irritation.

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