4 Ways to Reduce Carpal Tunnel Pain

4 Ways to Reduce Carpal Tunnel Pain

Carpal tunnel syndrome – that’s the thing you get when you type a lot, right? Not exactly. 

“The tendency to develop carpal tunnel syndrome is actually genetic in nature,” says Jon D. Hernandez, MD, a hand surgeon with St. Luke’s Orthopedic Care. “It can also result from trauma to the wrist, such as a fall.”

The carpal tunnel in your wrist contains the median nerve. If that passageway becomes narrowed – or the other tissues within it become inflamed – the median nerve is compressed, resulting in pain, numbness, and tingling in the thumb and first two fingers, and up to the elbow.

If you’re genetically predisposed, aspects of the workplace can aggravate it. “Overuse of any kind can trigger the symptoms,” he says. But there are simple ways to counter that.

TWEAK YOUR FORM

If you spend long hours typing, keep your wrists in a neutral or slightly extended position, adjusting the keyboard and your seat height as needed. “Listen to your body,” Dr. Hernandez adds. “You’ll know when you’ve been flexing or extending your wrists too much.”

WEAR A SPLINT

To avoid the onset of symptoms, wear an over-the-counter wrist splint overnight to keep the wrist joint in a relaxed position. “Many people sleep with their wrists curled and tucked,” he explains, “and this is the worst position. When you wake, the median nerve has already been stressed all night.” 

TAKE AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Anti-inflammatory medications can help alleviate pain, and vitamin B-6 can promote the nerve’s own repair processes. Steroid injections may help as well. But if splints and other simple treatments don’t bring relief, then it may be time to consider surgery,” he says. 

CONSIDER SURGERY

“Fortunately, we can operate endoscopically, usually with minimal complications and simple recovery. “But if you can control symptoms on your own, stick with what you’re doing,” says Dr. Hernandez.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT SLUHN.ORG/ORTHOPEDICS/CONDITIONS-AND-SERVICES/HAND-WRIST-ELBOW

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