The Truth About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a medical condition that leads to pain in the wrist and fingers. In advanced cases, the pain can reach to the forearm, shoulder, neck, and the upper back. The pain is a result of tendons in the carpal tunnel swelling. This compresses the median nerve and leads to numbness and muscle weakness.

Several factors can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Arthritis, trauma, pregnancy, and overuse are the leading contributors to the condition. Women are three times as likely to suffer from it than men due to the fact that they naturally have smaller carpal tunnels. Those who spend a lot of time typing on a keyboard are at risk as well. There are steps that you can take to prevent suffering from the condition.

Common ways to guard against carpal tunnel syndrome are ergonomic keyboards and computer mice. Make sure your mouse pad also has a wrist rest so that your wrists are not hanging off the edge of the desk. It is also useful to take short breaks so that you avoid overusing your hands. Hand stretches and exercises during the breaks are even more beneficial.

If you believe you are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, you should first consult your doctor. If he confirms that you have the condition, you have a number of treatment options. Ibuprofen, aspirin, and other pain relievers can relieve the symptoms. Your doctor can also inject a drug directly into your wrist to give you some relief.

If taking drugs is not your preferred choice for dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome, then you can try exercise. A licensed physical therapist should supervise your strengthening and stretching exercises. You can also resort to practicing yoga. Yoga has proven to improve the strength of your grip and reduce the pain significantly.

A last resort for treating carpal tunnel syndrome is surgery. It is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Surgery is only recommended for those who have seen symptoms for at least six months. The procedure involves cutting the band of tissue around the wrist to reduce pressure on the nerve in the carpal tunnel.