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Immediate Pain Relief from Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be painful, making hands, arms and even shoulders ache. According to MayoClinic.com, "Pressure placed on the nerve produces the numbness, pain and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome." Fortunately, relief from the symptoms can be achieved immediately through wrist splinting or acupressure.

  1. Wrist Splinting

    • MayoClinic.com recommends using "a splint that holds your wrist still while you sleep can help relieve nighttime symptoms of tingling and numbness." Wrapping your arm or applying pressure to the affected area can temporarily help, but don't wrap the area too tightly or it can cause more pain and cut off circulation. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the benefits of splinting "may last even after the patient stops wearing the splint."

    Acupressure

    • Acupressure is a treatment similar to acupuncture involving the pressure points on the body. According to PointFinder: The Online Acupressure Guide from Stanford University, "By learning how to stimulate your own pressure points, you can relieve minor or moderate symptoms, and reduce the need for nonprescription drugs." This can relieve the pain from carpal tunnel syndrome by applying pressure to the point reached by sliding the pointer finger between the thumb and pointer finger on the opposite hand. The guide includes charts that point to two other areas on the wrist that pressure can be applied to if that one doesn't work. One is aligned with the thumb on the wrist and the other is two thumb-widths below the wrist.

    Aspirin Therapy

    • The University of Maryland Medical Center says "Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil), are the most common pain relievers used for CTS." NSAIDs are not always effective for carpal tunnel pain, but you can hold an aspirin under running water and then rub it on the area that is affected. This can bring temporary relief of the symptoms and can work on minor pains anywhere on the body.

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