Carpal tunnel syndrome can make almost every aspect of your life difficult. The symptoms of the disorder can make even the simplest everyday activities an ordeal. The pain, numbness, tingling and weakness can make it hard to get through your daily routine and you may put off things out of fear of the shooting pains up your arms which can be a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. Work can become especially challenging and if you work with your hands, the weakness and pain can make it difficult for you to even keep your job!
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated in many different ways, depending on the progression of your case. Anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers, hot and cold compresses, exercises, stretches and even wrist braces may be used to provide relief from the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and to promote the healing process.
There are several different things which can help to alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and start the healing process. Hot and cold compresses, over the counter and prescription pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications, stretches, exercises and wrist braces can all be treatments; which is best depends on the progression of your case of carpal tunnel syndrome.
See your physician for advice on how to proceed in treating your carpal tunnel symptoms. Wrist braces can be a useful treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome; these are worn while sleeping to keep the wrist immobilized. When wearing these braces (or even when not), it’s best to keep the wrists elevated and relaxed while sleeping. Many carpal tunnel sufferers find wearing a wrist brace at night to be an effective treatment; however, some also need to wear their wrist braces during the day, including at work. Wearing a wrist brace at work prevents straining the wrist and causing further damage and stress to the tendons and relieves pressure on the median nerve. How and when you’ll need to wear your wrist brace will largely determine what sort of brace you need. There are braces made to completely immobilize the wrist as you sleep and others which provide enough flexibility and comfort to be worn at work.
Wrist braces are made from many different materials; all of them can work well, so the choice of material is really up to you and your preferences. Find braces which give you relief from your carpal tunnel symptoms yet are comfortable. From cotton/polyester blends to neoprene to specially made materials which trap heat to assist the healing process, there are plenty of options. Your choice will depend on what you need your braces for and when you will be wearing them. Keep in mind that wrist braces are generally made for either the right or the left hand and are not interchangeable. However, having a comfortable individual fit for both hands can maximize comfort and help you to heal from carpal tunnel syndrome more quickly, so this is actually a good thing. No matter what kind of brace you decide on, the most important thing is to see your physician before going shopping for one; ask him or her what they recommend as a course of treatment to effectively relieve or cure your carpal tunnel syndrome. Along with wrist braces, perform stretches and gentle exercises and you’ll soon have relief from carpal tunnel symptoms.
What makes carpal tunnel a repetitive stress disorder? It is a RSD in that it is caused by performing reptitive motion, such as typing, or working on an assembly line repeating the same action over and over again. There are many different types of treatment in trying to relieve the pain of CTS, but one easy, effective treatment is simply performing carpal tunnel exercises.
