Don't Let Carpal Tunnel Slow You Down!

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common medical issues in the workplace, with an estimated 2-4% of the population suffering from it at any given time. It’s also one of the easiest to treat, with research showing that workers with CTS who take regular breaks during their workday have nearly 75% less risk of developing long-term problems than those who don’t. In this article, we’ll look at what causes CTS, as well as some quick ways to stop and even reverse the symptoms if you happen to develop it yourself!




What is carpal tunnel?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder that affects the nerves and muscles in your wrist. The pain or tingling sensations you feel when you have carpal tunnel typically comes from pressure on the median nerve, which runs down the length of your arm to control sensation and movement in your hand. Some common symptoms include numbness, weakness, and stiffness in your fingers. While there are many ways to treat this condition, surgery is usually the only effective option for long-term relief.


How can you tell if you have it?


There are a few telltale signs that you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, including tingling and numbness in your hands and fingers. Keep an eye out for other symptoms, such as a burning sensation in the hand, feeling like something is pushing into the base of your thumb when you flex it forward or noticing significant weakness when picking up an object from the floor.


Natural ways to reduce the pain


If you feel like your fingers are taking longer to heal, don't forget about the following methods:

  • RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. -Apply moist heat: Heat is a natural way to relax tense muscles and it's also very effective in reducing inflammation. Wrap an electric heating pad around the wrists for 20 minutes or use a hot water bottle on sore areas of pain for 10 minutes at a time.

  • Do wrist exercises daily: Wrist exercises will improve circulation and strengthen muscles that have been weakened by carpal tunnel syndrome.


Find an ergonomic workspace


There are some steps you can take to lessen the strain on your hands while sitting at a desk. Place your mouse and keyboard in front of you with your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle, so that they are directly under them. Keep your wrists in line with the rest of your hand, this reduces force and eliminates over-stretching. It is also recommended to stretch before and after sitting for prolonged periods of time.


Eat foods rich in anti-inflammatory properties


  1. For breakfast, eat oatmeal with raisins and almond milk. Studies show that this is the best meal for reducing inflammation caused by carpal tunnel syndrome.

  2. Take fish oil supplements regularly, to help with the swelling of the hands and fingers (even if you are not a fish lover). The pills should be taken with a meal, as they can cause nausea when taken on an empty stomach. 2-3 grams of fish oil a day is recommended for optimal health benefits.


Get wrist support for your mouse hand


Wrist support will help to provide some relief. More importantly, make sure you are taking good care of your body and making sure you have the right ergonomic setup for your desk. This includes having your mouse and keyboard positioned correctly. Lastly, be sure to get a break every twenty minutes or so to give yourself a chance to rest your hands.


Do strength training exercises for your hands and wrists


Doing strength training exercises for your hands and wrists can help prevent and manage symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Take a break every so often to do some wrist curls with light weights, or hand stretches, or try squeezing a stress ball. These simple exercises will help strengthen your muscles that are weak or over-stretched which could result in some pain.


Use ice packs for inflammation


Ice helps reduce the inflammation, or swelling, of your carpal tunnel. Fill a Ziploc bag with crushed ice, then secure it to your wrist and leave it on for 10 minutes at a time.


When treatment does help?


In some cases, surgery may be an option for Carpal tunnel syndrome treatment in Coimbatore. It is the last resort after other treatments have failed or the person does not want to continue with these treatments. The goal of surgery is to reduce pressure on the median nerve in order to relieve symptoms. Some common surgeries are endoscopic release and open release, both of which involve cutting ligaments that can put pressure on this nerve. Once healed, post-operative therapy will help with range of motion and strength in the hands and wrists. The success rate of these surgeries ranges from 40% - 90%.


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