6 Ways to Reduce Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

Do you spend hours at your computer every day? Are you starting to experience carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, such as numbness or tingling in your hands? If so, you are not alone. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that affects many people. In this blog post, we will discuss six ways that you can reduce your wrist pain and accompanying symptoms. We will also talk about chiropractic care and how it can help relieve the pain and discomfort associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Before we discuss the six ways to reduce carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, let’s first take a look at what this condition is. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that is caused by compression of the median nerve. This nerve runs through the carpal tunnel, which is a small space in your wrist. The median nerve provides feeling to your thumb and first three fingers. It also controls some of the muscles in your hand. When the median nerve is compressed, it can lead to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and pain in your hand and wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a progressive condition, which means that it will usually get worse over time if it is not treated.

Signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you think that you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, there are some signs and symptoms that you can look for. These include:

• Weakness when gripping objects with one or both hands
• Pain or numbness in one or both hands
• “Pins and needles” feeling in the fingers
• Swollen feeling in the fingers
• Burning or tingling in the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers
• Pain or numbness that is worse at night, interrupting sleep

6 Ways to Reduce Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

There are several things that you can do to reduce your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Some of these things are:

1. Wear a splint at night – Wearing a splint at night can help to keep your wrist in a neutral position and take the pressure off of the median nerve.
2. Take breaks during the day – If you work at a computer or do other activities that require repetitive movement of your hands, make sure to take frequent breaks. Taking breaks will give your hands and wrists a chance to rest and reduce the amount of pressure on the median nerve.
3. Modify your activities – If you do activities that put a lot of stress on your hands and wrists, such as typing or using a mouse, try to modify these activities. For example, you can use an ergonomic keyboard or mouse to reduce the amount of stress on your hands and wrists.
4. Stretch your fingers and wrists – Stretching your fingers and wrists can help to improve blood circulation and reduce pressure on the median nerve.
5. Use ice – Applying ice to your hand or wrist can help to reduce swelling and pain.
6. See a chiropractor – Chiropractic care can help to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Chiropractors are trained to identify and treat the root cause of wrist pain. They can also provide you with exercises and stretches to help reduce your symptoms.

Treatment Options

If you make an appointment with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center as soon as you start feeling symptoms, you have the best chance of reversing the damage and finding relief without invasive treatments. We can relieve the pain and numbness of carpal tunnel syndrome with treatments such as:

• Strengthening and stretching exercises designed to build wrist strength and lower swelling
• Nerve testing to rule out other potential wrist injuries or problems
• Pain management options that won’t require you to take narcotic medications
• Cortisone shots directly into the wrist to calm the irritated nerve

Prevention

There are no proven strategies to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, but you can minimize stress on the hands and wrists with these methods from Mayo Clinic:

• Reduce your force and relax your grip. If your work involves a cash register or keyboard, for instance, hit the keys softly. For prolonged handwriting, use a big pen with an oversized, soft grip adapter and free-flowing ink.
• Take short, frequent breaks. Gently stretch and bend hands and wrists periodically. Alternate tasks when possible. This is especially important if you use equipment that vibrates or that requires you to exert a great amount of force. Even a few minutes each hour can make a difference.
• Watch your form. Avoid bending your wrist all the way up or down. A relaxed middle position is best. Keep your keyboard at elbow height or slightly lower.
• Improve your posture. Incorrect posture rolls shoulders forward, shortening the neck and shoulder muscles and compressing nerves in the neck. This can affect the wrists, fingers and hands, and can cause neck pain.
• Change your computer mouse. Make sure that your computer mouse is comfortable and doesn’t strain your wrist.
• Keep your hands warm. You’re more likely to develop hand pain and stiffness if you work in a cold environment. If you can’t control the temperature at work, put on fingerless gloves that keep the hands and wrists warm.

Make an Appointment with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center

If you are in the Austin area and are experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, make an appointment with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center. We can help you find relief without invasive treatments. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.