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If you have been experiencing chronic hand or wrist pain and have recently lost the strength in your hands, you may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as CTS. Other related symptoms may include poor circulation and pain extending up your forearm. For more information on this syndrome, continue reading this guide on how to get rid of carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Introduction
- Do you suffer from chronic hand or wrist pain? Are you awakened in the middle of the night by a tingling sensation in your fingers or numbness in your hands? During the day do you notice your neck or shoulders aching or that your hands have fallen asleep? If so, chances are you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. This guide will provide you with the necessary information on how to get rid of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Step 1: Determine If You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Carpal tunnel syndrome develops gradually over time, caused by repetitive movements of your wrist and hand. People that spend a lot of time typing on a computer keyboard are especially prone to carpal tunnel. Symptoms may include:
- Tingling sensations in the hands and fingers
- Pain and numbness in the hands and wrist
- Decreased muscle strength in the hand and wrist, causing your grip to weaken. This may result in dropping objects that you are carrying or the inability to form a fist.
- Loss of feeling in the hands and fingers
- A burning feeling in the forearm
- Aching in the upper shoulders and neck regions
- Poor circulation
- Cold hands
Step 2: Seek Symptomatic Relief
- If you believe you are suffering from the gradual onset of carpal tunnel syndrome, there are ways you can alleviate the symptoms. You can:
- Use over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin or advil
- Apply cold compresses to the painful areas, usually the wrist
- Take breaks from whatever routine you are engaged in, especially if it causes tension in your wrist. Numerous mini-breaks are preferable to longer breaks.
- Start using an ergonomically designed keyboard. These are intended to provide support to your body, reducing stress on your arms and wrist.
- Perform hand exercises. You can simply move your hand around for several minutes, ultimately restoring circulation in your hands and relieving some of the stress placed on your wrist.
- Use a wrist brace
- Practice yoga
- Take Vitamin B supplements
- See a chiropractor or an acupuncturist
Step 3: See a Doctor
- If the discomfort in your wrist continues to escalate, causing pain that you can no longer treat on your own, then you need to consider seeing a specialist. Sometimes the only way to address the problem is to have a doctor give you an official diagnosis. Doctors may:
- Prescribe Corticosteroids, which includes prednisone
- Inject your wrist with lidocaine, which will relieve pressure on your median nerve. This may only provide relief to those with mild or moderate symptoms, however.
- Suggest you undergo an operation. Carpal tunnel release is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States.
Conclusion
- If you spend your days positioned at the computer keyboard, you run the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, a medical condition that causes pain, numbness and muscle weakness in your hand and wrist. The best way to avoid CTS is to take precautions before it has a chance to develop. If you think you already have it, however, or if you believe you are at risk, the above guide is a great starting point for information on how to get rid of carpal tunnel syndrome.
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