What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and How to Treat It

Do you type a lot on the computer and you keep your wrist in a certain position for long periods of time. A repeated motion of the hand or wrist may cause the tendons to become infrlamed and press the nerve against the bone. the carpal tunnel is a narrow paggasgeway between the bones and ligaments in your wrist. The medium nerve, which controls senstations in your fingers passes through this tunnel. Carpal tunnel Syndrome occurs when theere is a pressure on the nerve where it goes through the tunnel.

Presure on the nerve causes numbness or tingling in one or both hands except for the little finger. Pressure may also cause wrist pain that may affect your fingers and radiate up your arm. If you are suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome the symptons and pain are greater at night and early morning. Preganancy, diabetes and an underactive thyroid and taking birth control pills may increase the risk of Carpal Tunnel syndrome. There are some steps that you can take to help prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Take frequent breaks from repetitive motions

stretch your fingers and thumb and change your grip often

Try to avoid repetitive hand motions with a bent wrist

Keep your wrist straight while writing, typing, drawing or knitting.

Playing the piano or other musical instruments

Learn how to type with a light touch

Have good posture

Avoid rounding your shoulders or slouching

If you cannot stop the activitiy that you are accomplishing, change the way that you are doing it so that your wrist is not placed in a stressed position

Alternate tasks so that you don't spend nore than an hour or two doing the activity involving your hands

Do wrist circles and stretch your fingers

Assure that your keyboard is a the correct height

Use aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve the pain

You can also use an ice pack or cold pack on the palm side of the wrist to help with the pain.

Buy a wrist splint to help relieve the pain.

Call for medical attention is the pain or numbness is severe and is not relieved by rest, changing positions, ice or normal dose of aspirin. Remember that long term numbness may lead to permanent loss of some of the hand functions.