Welcome to our channel! Are you tired of experiencing hand numbness disrupting your sleep? We have an effective solution for you! In this informative video, we delve into the topic of how wearing a wrist brace can help alleviate hand numbness at night and provide you with the relief you’ve been searching for.

Hand numbness during sleep can be caused by various factors such as carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve compression, repetitive strain injuries, or even poor sleeping posture. Understanding the root cause of your hand numbness is essential in finding the right solution, and a wrist brace can be a game-changer.

In this video, our team of experts will guide you through the benefits and proper usage of wrist braces. We explain how these braces work by providing support, stability, and immobilization to your wrist, which in turn reduces the pressure on the nerves responsible for hand numbness.

You’ll learn about the different types of wrist braces available, including adjustable splints, compression sleeves, and immobilizing braces. We’ll help you choose the one that best suits your needs and offers the maximum comfort and effectiveness during your sleep.

Not only do we provide in-depth information about wrist braces, but we also share practical tips on how to incorporate them into your nighttime routine seamlessly. We address common concerns and answer frequently asked questions, ensuring you have all the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision.

So, if you’re tired of waking up with numb hands and ready to take control of your sleep comfort, this video is a must-watch. Join us as we explore the benefits and proper usage of wrist braces, empowering you to say goodbye to hand numbness at night.

Hit that play button now to discover the transformative power of wrist braces and start enjoying restful nights once again. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest videos. Together, let’s reclaim the peaceful sleep you deserve!

HandNumbness #SleepComfort #WristBraces #NerveCompression #CarpalTunnelSyndrome

For many people who work with their hands, carpal tunnel syndrome is something that they can develop at an early age.

There are others who may develop this due to accidents that they have had with their hands.

However, developed, those who deal with this find that it is a problem that can affect their daily functioning, and can also be one of the ways that they deal with pain daily.

The Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are several causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, with many of these being illnesses that most people are not aware of that could be causing their pain. These causes include:

• Hypothyroidism
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetes
• Making the same movement with hands over and over, such as those who spend their day on a keyboard
• Pregnancy
• Smoking, as this limits the blood flow in the area
• Tumors or growths, which are uncommon
• Being female, as more females have this issue than men
• Being obese
• Having multiple sclerosis

The causes of carpal tunnel syndrome all come back to the median nerve being damaged in some way. This can be from trauma or just a fluid buildup around this area.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom that people have when they are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome is having pain in the hands that also involves some wrist pain.

However, there are numerous other symptoms associated with this issue. These symptoms include:

• Tingling in the fingers
• Numbness in the fingers or the entire hand
• Weakness
• Pain in the arm radiating between the wrist and elbow

It is important to note that most people experience more symptoms at night, after they have completed a day’s work.

In addition, while there may be pain and numbness in the fingers, most people report that their little finger has no issues. This is due to there being a separate nerve that runs through this little finger.

The symptoms are going to appear gradually. However, when they do make an appearance, you will immediately notice a difference.

The good news is that with changing your methods of using your hands along with the other suggestions in upcoming sections, you can avoid permanent damage the nerve running in this area.

If you fail to make changes or do not get help in any way, this can cause permanent damage to the median nerve, meaning these symptoms will always be present.

Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

In most cases, a doctor can make a diagnosis based on the symptoms that you are having.

However, he or she may also look at blood tests to determine if there are underlying issues such as arthritis, hypothyroidism or diabetes.

During an exam, the doctor is going to look at the strength that the hands have, along with the appearance of muscles throughout the hands, arms and the neck.

In some cases, nerve tests are done to determine the extent of the damage that is being seen.

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Aside from changing the way in which you utilize your hands and wrists, there are treatment options that can be included with these changes to make a difference.

The CapralCure Wrist Brace

This is a great treatment option that can help you in keeping your wrist in the proper position to alleviate the nerve pain that you are feeling.

What makes this brace one that is going to work is through the vibration technology that is utilized in this brace.

The vibration is going to target an acupuncture point in the wrist that is going to alleviate the pain and enables you to heal faster.

This is a one hundred percent natural method for relieving pain that you may be feeling. A few interesting points about this brace:

• The material is completely breathable
• Relief is felt within minutes of using this brace
• Amazon reviewers have given this a five-star rating 78% of the times in which this has been reviewed, a huge achievement for any product!
• Offers a risk free, money back guarantee due to the confidence in this product!

Home Treatments

There are several home treatments that can be utilized as well. However, these may not work for everyone. A few treatment options include:

• Ice the wrist for 10 to 15 minutes
• Taking NSAID’s for the pain
• A simple wrist splint

Dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome is going to take time to get accustomed to. Why is this?

Most people have to find a new way of how they do things, even those simple things that they do daily.

It can be hard to make these changes after years of doing something an entirely different way. Here are a few recommendations that can help with dealing with the symptoms:

1. Switch hands when doing tasks with your hands, if possible. For those who use both hands, this can be an impossible task to complete.
2. Learn how to relax your shoulders, as this can help to relieve some of the pain that you may be feeling in the hands and wrists.
3. When utilizing a keyboard, be sure to keep wrists straight and to keep the hands a bit higher than the wrists. This position can prevent these nerves from becoming damaged further and causing symptoms.
4. Always use your whole hand when picking up objects instead of using only your fingers.
5. If possible, keep the wrist in a neutral position to help relieve the stress in the area.

Medicines and Surgery Prescribed

In many cases, when carpal tunnel syndrome is severe, doctors may prescribe medications like corticosteroids, however, they try to avoid this as they are very powerful and have side effects.

These corticosteroids can be injected into the problem area as well. The other option is to go in and surgically clip the nerve causing the issue.

While this is not a major surgery, there are worries that must be taken into consideration before utilizing these methods.

Are you experiencing pain in your wrist?

Do you sometimes feel as if your thumb and fingers are going to sleep? Ever experienced a tingling sensation or some sort of pain that travels from your palm to your fingers?

If yes, then you might be suffering from Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. People who tend to perform tasks which require them to move their hands and wrists often suffer from Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.

Repetitive wrist movements cause people to experience numbness and pain in their palms which spreads to the fingers as well. Usually cashiers or people who tend to type a lot experience this condition.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is also referred to as repetitive stress injury, this condition can be quite painful especially when you’ve been involved in such an activity that requires you to use your hands and wrists.

When people perform repetitive tasks they experience an increased pressure on their median nerves.

This can cause the nerves to experience irritation; these nerves are present inside narrow passageways that are present on the palm side of one’s wrists.

This passageway is also known as carpel tunnel. Some medical conditions also cause these median nerves to feel discomfort and cause this syndrome.

These conditions include diabetes, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis. If you are pregnant you might also experience this condition.

If you are suffering from Carpel Tunnel Syndrome you are likely to experience a tingling sensation, numbness and pain in your thumb and the first three fingers of your hands.

Usually, people experience this pain at night due to cramping. The cramps soon spread out, all the way up to the elbow.

You will also experience difficulty when it comes to grabbing things.  Surgery is considered to be on the most effective methods of treating this condition.

However, if you do not wish to undergo one then you can follow these 5 ways to alleviate the pain of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.

Ways to alleviate the pain of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Now despite the fact that this condition can be quite painful and can cause one quite a lot of discomfort, you can treat it at home.

So, the first thing that needs to be done is to stop doing all such activities that are causing discomfort to your nerves.

Now if you happen to be a cashier you are likely to experience this issue but since this is your job you can’t stop working.

Therefore, it is better if you reduce the amount of time you spend typing or doing any other repetitive wrist work.

1- Take Breaks

Take mini-stretching breaks during your work time. Exercise your wrists in order to soothe your nerves, exercise known as the tendon-gliding exercise also help a lot.

Remember to stretch your shoulders, relieving the nerves there and in the neck area of any sort of pain.

This will cause your wrist nerves to relax and will calm them as well. You can also buy yourself a brace and can wear it throughout the day and night; this will help in preventing your wrists from cramping.

While typing make sure to pay attention to your keyboard and how you are moving your wrist across it as well.

Make sure that your hands are in a neutral position meaning that your fingers should be in line with your forearms this reduces the chances of one experiencing Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.

If you are using a computer then it won’t be difficult for you, you can easily adjust the position of your keyboard in such a way that you don’t over-extend your wrists at all while you type.

2- A Cold Bath

Another effective treatment is giving your hands a good cold bath! Just soak your hand and wrist in an ice bath for a few minutes.

You can even ice your wrists using cold packs, just place them on top of your wrists and the area where you tend to experience pain for at least twenty minutes.

According to many people icing your wrists helps as it eases the pain and makes the nerves calm.

However, if your hands turn red at some point you may then remove the ice pack or take your hand out of the ice bath.

3- Supplements

You can also take Vitamin B6 supplements as well in order to treat this condition. Vitamin B6 is actually very important for the nerves to function properly.

It is important for an average person to consume at least 100 mg of Vitamin B6 per day.

If you are deficient then you should definitely take these supplements. If you are not deficient then it would be better to consult your doctor first.

4- Acupuncture

You could even undergo acupuncture treatment. This treatment is said to be quite helpful in easing wrist pain and nerve discomfort as acupuncture actually helps by increasing the blood flow in the arteries which supply blood to these nerves.

5- Use herbs with anti-inflammatory properties

Ginger happens to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. What you can do is make a paste using grated ginger root, some eucalyptus and mint along with some essential oils.

Mix all of these ingredients in a cup of warm water, and then leave it to chill in the fridge.

Once it is cold enough you should soak any compress or a sponge into the mixture and apply it to wrists in order to experience immediate relief.

Or you can make a tea with two sprigs of rosemary in a cup of water. Let it cool and then massage your wrist and hand with some cypress oil and then apply a cold compress soaked in rosemary tea on top of that area.

The Fenugreek compress is a great anti-inflammatory compress for reducing pain. It is full of niacin and vitamin B3, these help in treating osteoarthritis and arthritis issues at hand.

Just mix some fenugreek flour with water and make a paste which you can then apply over the carpel tunnel.

Lastly, make sure to eat foods that are filled with vitamin B6 and provide you with antioxidants and minerals as well.

This will relieve you of all the pain and discomfort that you’ve been experiencing in your wrist.

Some of the symptoms experienced from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are as follows:

• Ache in forearm
• Pain in Wrist
• Numbness in the hand
• Pain in Hand
• Tingling sensation
• A sensation that gives electric shock feeling especially in thumb region
• Hand weakness

Some of the above symptoms can be seen along with pain and swelling. Some patients also report inflammation in the affected region which in turn causes swelling effects.

Without treating this problem, it will not be possible to do any regular activity or any day to day work.

The inflammation and swelling can also result in squeezing of the nerves that can be really painful. This can block the nerve movement through the carpal tunnel.

Dealing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are various methods in which the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be treated. Some of the below methods will be very helpful.

Some of the treatments can prevent further complications from happening. Some methods can even be a permanent solution for you by relieving the pain.

Frequent Rest

People with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome should take frequent rest. It is advisable that you should take regular rest at the right time.

It may be highly convincing to do your work by bearing the pain, but it can sometimes lead to other complications.

When you are doing your work, there will be some instance where your body will require some rest. During that situations, it is highly advisable to provide what your body asks for.

Address inflammation

For some patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it may not end up with just pain. It can even lead to inflammation.

If you get inflammation in your hand region, it becomes very difficult to continue with other works.

It becomes very important to reduce swelling and inflammation. There are many natural ways to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Epsom salt is identified to be one of the great ways to reduce your swelling. You can soak your hand in warm water mixed with Epsom salt.

This can be a very good solution for your problem. Sometimes if you use it regularly, it can even become a cure for the problem.

The inflammation can also lead to swelling which can block the nerves. This can restrict the free blood flow to the nerves. So this is a situation that should be addressed immediately.

Gentle exercises

Some people do hard work with their hand and complicate the problem with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In that case, it is important that you do the right amount of exercise.

You can consult a physical expert to understand which type of exercise will be suitable for handling the pain and swelling in your hand and carry out that gentle exercise to find a good relief.

The exercises can vary from one person to another person based on the condition of the problem. Some people have also seen a permanent remedy by doing regular exercises.

Regular breaks during work

Relaxation is very important to calm your mind. It is not the case that relaxation is important for your mind but also it helps your body to take some rest and continue with the work again with proper flow of energy.

If you are a person who does continuous work, it is important that you should take regular breaks during your work. This will help in reducing the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

This relaxation or rest can be something like getting out of your seat and focusing on something else and relaxing the mind.

The relaxation can be based on the nature of the work that you do. But ultimately taking frequent rest can provide you a good feeling and good relief.

Yoga helps

From the experiences of people and also from researchers, it has been proved that Yoga plays a very important role in treating the problems with the body.

When you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to which when you get wrist pain and hand pain, you can use Yoga methods to treat the problem.

There are many stretching asanas available as part of yoga that can be very helpful in keeping the pain symptoms under control.

Apart from keeping the pain symptoms under control, yoga also helps in strengthening the joints which are very important for doing day to day activity without any problem.

Acupuncture

It is believed that acupuncture is capable of treating problems related to the body. It is becoming very famous everywhere and people have also started experiencing relief from acupuncture treatment.

In acupuncture treatment, it is believed that the Chi flow in the body is important for the body to be healthy and be away from any problems.

With Acupuncture treatment, the trigger points are identified and treatment is provided which helps in giving a good pain relief.

Alternative medicines

There are many alternative medications available to treat Carpal tunnel syndrome. It is not necessary that you should always take painkillers to keep the pain under control.

But before you go for an alternative medicine it is advisable to visit your doctor first to get some additional details before you start the medication.

Some of the medication can be contradicting to your present condition. Your doctor will be able to guide you.

There are also many therapies available that can help you out to get a good relief. Some of these therapies are alternative therapies and most of these will not have any side effects.

If you take necessary steps to handle the problem with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it is easy to treat the problem.

Some people are a bit nervous about the treatment options available and they end up living with the problem.

You can also get suggestions from people who have overcome such painful situations.

There are many online forums and discussions available where you will be able to read the experiences of the existing patients.

These experiences will be very helpful for you to take a decision on what steps you should take to handle the problem.

If you are noticing that you are experiencing sensations of tingling, weakness, or numbness in your hand, you should consider speaking with your physician about whether you may be experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome.

The condition of carpal tunnel syndrome is distinguished by these sensations and if the result of pressure being placed on your median nerve.

This nerve runs the length of your arm, passes through a passageway in your wrist (known as the carpal tunnel), and comes to an end in your hand.

This median nerve controls all of the movement and feeling in your thumb and all of your fingers, with the exception of your pinky finger.

In most cases, individuals with the condition of carpal tunnel syndrome are unsure what exactly brought on their carpal tunnel syndrome. Some of the following could be the cause of your condition:

• Repetitive motions, such as typing, or any other motions of your wrist that you perform over and over again. This is especially true when your hands are lower than your wrist
• Pregnancy
• Conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis

If you have the signs and symptoms of the condition of carpal tunnel syndrome and you do not seek treatment, it is possible that the symptoms will last for a long time, get worse, or even clear up for a period of time and then come back.

The earlier you receive a diagnosis and treatment from your physician, the better your chances for a full recovery are.

Signs and Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you have the condition of carpal tunnel syndrome, you are most likely to feel an itching numbness, burning, or tingling sensation in the palm of your hand as well as in your thumb, index, and/or middle fingers.

Chances are that the first thing you will notice is that your fingers often “fall asleep” and you have a numb sensation at night.

This will typically happen in the evenings because your hands are often more relaxed- after all, you’re most likely relaxing at home instead of working- and it often happens while sleeping.

You will often wake in the mornings with tingling and numbness in your hands that often runs all the way to your shoulder.

Severe Cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

As your condition of carpal tunnel syndrome becomes worse over time, your grip strength will be affected because the muscles in your hand will shrink.

In addition, the muscle cramping and pain will increase. Due to the pressure and aggravation of the median nerve, it will begin to lose its ability to function, which will lead to the following:

• Loss of sensation in fingers
• Slower impulses of nerves
• Loss of coordination and strength- especially pinching with your thumb.
• Permanent muscle damage
• Loss of function in hand

Due to these extreme occurrences, you do not want to put off seeing a physician if you suspect that you may have the condition of carpal tunnel syndrome. It is best to get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

Who is at Risk for Developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

There are a few medical conditions that increase your risk of developing the condition of carpal tunnel syndrome, including the following:

• Diabetes
• Trauma
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hypothyroidism

Due to their smaller stature, and smaller carpal tunnel, women are much more likely than men to develop this condition.

In fact, research shows that women are 3 times more likely to develop it than men. If a woman develops this condition as a result of becoming pregnant, it will most likely clear up within a few months following delivery.

In addition, there are specific jobs that increase your risk for developing this condition.

This is due to the fact that you are repeating the same motions over and over for an extended period of time. Some of these jobs include the following:

• Baker
• Knitter
• Seamstress
• Cashier
• Hair stylist
• Assembly line worker
• Musician

Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you are experiencing the symptoms of the condition of carpal tunnel syndrome, you need to see your physician as soon as possible.

He or she will most likely ask you to tap the palm side of your wrist or to fully flex your wrist with your arms extended out completely.

There is another test that is known as the EMG-NCV. This will measure the nerve functioning across the carpal tunnel. This will help to determine the level of damage and the severity of your condition.

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Just as with other conditions, there are some conservative treatments that you can do on your own and there are some more extreme treatments, such as surgery. Following is an explanation of a few of the options for treatment:

Changes in lifestyle: if your condition of carpal tunnel syndrome is a result of repetitive motions, you can make some changes by taking breaks on a regular basis, or doing less of the activity that is resulting in your pain. In addition, there are certain strengthening exercises and stretches that could be beneficial.

Immobilization: in some cases, your physician may recommend that you use a splint or brace to keep your wrist immobilized in order to reduce the pressure on your nerves.

Often, it is recommended that you wear it at night to relieve that tingling/numb sensation and to help you get better sleep and give your median nerve some rest.

Medication: in addition to the above, your physician may also recommend steroid shots or oral OTC/prescription anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and swelling.

Surgery: finally, if the above treatment options to not work or you have delayed treatment, surgery may be an option for you- speak with your physician.

Tips for Self-Care Treatments

There are some things you can do on your own to help reduce the signs and symptoms of your condition:

• Keep wrists as straight as possible
• Use splint/brace to keep wrist neutral
• Speak with your physician about exercises/stretches
• Avoid flexing/extending wrist
• Practice proper ergonomics while working

Rearrange work/activity area to minimize discomfort

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition caused by the median nerve becoming compressed at the wrist.

This nerve is responsible for controlling sensations to the palm part of the fingers and the thumb and also controls various other nerve impulses to the muscles in the hand.

The carpal tunnel houses the median nerve as well as tendons. When tendons become inflated or irrigated, the median nerve becomes compressed, resulting in a variety of consequences, including pain in the hand that runs up the arm, weakness in the arm and numbness in the hand.

The condition is the most commonly diagnosed cause of hand and wrist pain in the U.S.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a number of different factors that increase the median nerve and tendon pressure.

It is suspected that, for most suffers, the condition is caused by smaller than normal carpal tunnel.

Trauma and injury to the hand or arm, over activity in the pituitary gland, arthritis, repeated use of the hand with a wrist motion and fluid retained during pregnancy are other factors that cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Sometimes there is no exact reason for the syndrome. Women are far more likely to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome than men.

This is due, in part, to the fact that a woman’s carpal tunnel is smaller than a man.

Although carpal tunnel syndrome is not entirely preventable, there are a number of methods which you can use to minimize your risks of developing the condition.

It is in your best interest to put as many of these prevention methods to work for you as possible.

At work, take frequent breaks if it is possible, and remember that stretching is vital. Reform various hand an arm exercises before he day begins.

Use ergonomic products at home and in the workplace as well.

These specially designed products are easier to grip and hold without stressing the carpal tunnel or the tendons, further reducing your risk.

For most sufferers, the symptoms of carpal tunnel begin gradually and increase as time progresses.

Initially those who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome may experience a burning sensation in the hand and the fingers, tingling and/ or itching.

Sometimes people report that their fingers feel as if they are swollen when they are actually not.

As symptoms of the condition progress, tingling sensations in the hands and fingers may be felt throughout the day.

Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate hot and cold when you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

It may be more difficult for the person suffering to grip things and forming a fist may also be difficult.

If left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome may cause the muscle base at the thumb to waste away.

Luckily there are a number of treatment options available for those who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.

The treatment best for your needs varies, with factors such as the severity of the condition determining which you should use.

It is best to talk to your doctor about the potential treatments available. Together you can determine which is most suitable to your particular case, allowing treatment and peace of mind to occur much sooner than before.

Remember, do not put off that visit to the doctor if you suspect that you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

The sooner that treatment begins the better results you will enjoy. Let’s take a look at some of the different treatment options that your doctor might recommend for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Medications

One of the most common treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome is medications. Your doctor may prescribe one of several different medications for the disease.

He might also recommend the use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin.

Pain relievers are also often times recommended for use over period of short time.

Sometimes diuretics are prescribed to patients, which work as a way to decrease swelling. Sometimes Corticosteroids are used, or Lidocaine injections given.

Exercise

It is imperative that you stretch your muscles each and every day. This is important to prevent carpal tunnel as well as to alleviate some of the pain and discomfort associated with the condition.

Talk to a physical therapist who can recommend the best exercises to use of the prevention and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Alternative Treatments

If you are someone that does not want to use medications to treat their condition, consider the use of alternative treatments.

Alternative treatments are safe for most people and most of the time are considered very effective.

Popular types of alternative therapy best for carpal tunnel syndrome include care from a chiropractor as well as acupuncture.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes required in order to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Before recommending surgery, however, your doctor will try treatment with medications and other choices first.

Believe it or not, surgery to correct carpal tunnel syndrome is performed regularly in the U.S.

It is recommended that you opt for surgery is the other treatments are not showing any improvement after a period of six months or more.

When surgery is performed for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment, the band of tissues that surround the wrist are severed, thus reducing the amount of pressure that is resting on the median nerve.

Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is quick and effective. Some of the different types of surgery available for carpal tunnel include:

Open Release Surgery

For most people, Open Release Surgery is chosen for correction of carpal tunnel syndrome.

With this surgery, the doctor will make a 2-inch incision in the wrist and then remove the carpal ligament. This surgery is performed on an outpatient basis.

Endoscopic Surgery

This is a type of surgery that provides less discomfort and a faster haling time than the Open Release Surgery.

The doctor makes two ½ inch incisions in the wrist and the palm, and then uses a camera with an attached tube to observe, on a screen, the inside of the tissue. The carpal ligament is then cut.

Final Thoughts

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is available for anyone suffering from the condition. The best treatments for the condition are listed above.

If you are suffering from this condition, talk to your doctor and get the treatment that you need.

Resources:

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-treatment-overview

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm

Carpal tunnel is something that more people are coping with, especially as technological devices become more and more popular.

Because of this, it’s important that we understand the potential for permanent damage that often comes with carpal tunnel syndrome, and we also need to ensure that we take care of it before it becomes an even bigger problem for us in the future.

In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at carpal tunnel syndrome, its effects on the nerves and the body, and how it could, potentially, cause permanent damage to those who don’t get the appropriate treatment for it within a reasonable amount of time.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Before we can get a good understanding of how this disorder can end up causing permanent damage to the body, it’s important to have an understanding of what carpal tunnel syndrome is in the first place.

The good news is, this disorder is actually incredibly common, so the diagnosis and the frustration that is often associated with the disorder has become a lot less in recent years.

According to many professionals, carpal tunnel syndrome is actually the most common of all of the nerve disorders that are out there.

The name of the disorder comes from the area in which the disorder comes from – which is called the “carpal tunnel” This area of your arm is located around your wrist, near the palm of your hand.

There are three parts to the carpal tunnel, and the gap in there is formed by eight different little bones. The inside of the gap is filled with tissues and ligaments, and the part we need to know about, the median nerve, is also located in this area.

What happens is, when the median nerve gets too much pressure on it for too long of a time, then it starts to reduce the amount of feeling that goes to your hand.

The median nerve connects to each of your fingers, and so, the result of the extended pressure is numbness in your hand – sometimes, if it’s bad enough, you can feel numbness all the way to your elbow.

With carpal tunnel syndrome, this happens on a regular basis and it starts to cause pain and lack of functioning in the entire arm that is affected by the pain and “swollen” sensation that you may feel.

Why Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Even Happen?

There are lots of theories for this. Obviously, we understand that the nerves in our wrists are getting pinched, which is why our hands or fingers are falling asleep.

But why does it seem to happen so often? Some of the most common causes are related to either 1) The overuse of electronic devices and/or computers or 2) weight issues.

With electronic devices, especially if you’re using a keyboard, your wrists are in a certain position for an extended period of time, which causes the nerve to become weak and feel pinched.

If you’re leaning on your wrists, you’re causing this to be even more of an issue, this resulting in an inability to function, numbed parts of the arm(s) in question, and a variety of other problems that are linked with carpal tunnel.

The weight issue does something similar, but instead of the repeated motion being the core of the pain that you’re feeling, it’s about the amount of pressure that your weight is putting on your wrists.

Our wrists are not meant to carry that extra weight, and therefore, the pressure gets bad and that’s what starts to cause the odd feelings in your fingers, wrists, hands, and arms.

That’s why you will sometimes feel the numbness when you wake up in the morning. Pregnancy can also cause a temporary stint of carpal tunnel syndrome; you’re advised to keep an eye on it after your pregnancy has ended so that you can see whether or not it’s going to stick around for the long term.

All that being said, it could also be because of other nerve disorders. Many people who suffer from fibromyalgia and other pain disorders end up having to fight off the pain that often comes as a result of carpal tunnel as well.

If you are struggling with a disorder that causes your body to swell in certain areas, then it could also cause your wrists to swell, which increases the amount of pressure that is on your wrists, which means that you are more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome as well.

Carpal tunnel used to be more common in middle aged adults (those over the age of 40), and it was more common in women than men.

Nowadays, especially in relation to the use of technology by those who are under the age of 40, it’s become more common in every age group and population of persons, no matter what their background may be.

Long Term Effects and the Potential of Permanent Damage

The question is, of course, can it cause permanent damage if you don’t treat it? The answer to this question is absolutely yes, and as with any disorder, what the results of that will be will depend on a variety of factors, including the initial cause for your carpal tunnel in the first place.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the permanent damage that, if left untreated, could end up happening as a result of your carpal tunnel syndrome.

– The hand may become a lot weaker, because the lack of feeling in your hand will make it more difficult for you to be able to grip items, and you may be less likely to use your hand if it’s numb as well.

– Loss of sensation is a very common issue that goes along with untreated carpal tunnel syndrome. You may lose the feeling in your fingertips, or you may even notice that there are other areas of your arm that are without any feeling as a result of the untreated carpal tunnel syndrome.

– The palm’s base and the thumb can both lose muscle mass because of the pressure that is exuded on this area of the body.

The muscles, in short, start to deteriorate, and therefore will be unable to be used. This only happens in the most severe of cases, but it’s important that you are aware that this is a possibility that may occur.

– Permanent nerve damage, especially in the wrist and upper arm, is relatively common in untreated cases of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Nerve damage may not always include a loss of sensation, but it’s one of the many things that may help you to notice that not everything is well when it comes to what is going on with that area of your arm.

Can You Prevent Long Term Damage from Carpal Tunnel?

As you may expect, the answer to this question is also “Yes.” There are so many things that can be done for those with carpal tunnel syndrome now.

So, unless you completely ignore the fact that you are struggling with the disorder, you’re going to be able to fend off the permanent damage that can come with it. Here are some of the most common types of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Medications that help reduce swelling and pain.
• Braces that help to hold your wrists in a proper position, thus preventing further pinching of the median nerve and other nerves in your wrists.
• Use electronics less often or, if you must use them on a regular basis, consider getting products that are friendlier to your wrists, hands, and arms.
• In the worst cases of carpal tunnel, you may be in need of surgery so that you can get the hand, wrist, and arm back to where they need to be in terms of function and flexibility. This doesn’t happen often, but it’s definitely an option for those who are dealing with the worst cases of carpal tunnel syndrome and its effects.

So, as you can see, carpal tunnel syndrome is something that needs to be taken care of in an efficient manner.

Luckily, there are a number of different treatment options that are out there that can help you deal with your carpal tunnel in such a way that you won’t end up with the permanent damage that we’ve been talking about here.

Your doctor can give you a lot of recommendations as to how you can move forward with your therapy, and they can the advice that you need in order to ensure that your carpal tunnel is under control for the longest period of time.

Even though we’ve given suggestions for your diagnosis and treatment in this article, you always want to remember that your best option is with your doctor and what they recommend – then, you can feel confident that you are taking care of your body in the best way that you can, no matter what the circumstances surrounding your carpal tunnel may be.

Further reading:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Carpal_Tunnel_Syndrome/

Carpal Tunnel: http://www.healthline.com/health/carpal-tunnel-syndrome

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition causing numbness and tingling, along with other symptoms in the hand and the arm. This condition is a result of a pinched nerve in your wrist.

There are many factors that contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, including:

• Anatomy of the wrist
• Patterns of hand use
• Underlying health problems

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of your wrist and is bound by ligaments and bones. It protects the main nerve to your hand and the nine tendons that bend your fingers.

Compression of the nerves causes the tingling, numbness, and eventually weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.

For most individuals who develop carpal tunnel syndrome can relieve the numbness and tingling, and restore functioning of their hand and wrist with proper treatments.

What are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms?

Typically, carpal tunnel syndrome starts out with some intermittent tingling or numbness in your thumb, index, and middle fingers.

You may also have some discomfort in your wrist and hand. Some of the common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are as follows:

Tingling/Numbness

This tingling/numbness will be in your hand and fingers, especially in your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger.

However, it will not be present in your little finger. This sensation occurs mostly when holding objects such as a phone, newspaper, or steering wheel, and can commonly disrupt your sleep.

Additionally, the sensation could extend from your wrist up your arm. Many people will shake their hand in order to relieve the symptoms, but as the disorder gets worse, the tingling/numbness will become more constant.

Weakness

You could also experience some weakness in your hand and drop things more often. This is possibly due to the numbness in your hand or weakness of the pinching muscles of the thumb, which are controlled by the median nerve.

If you experience signs and symptoms that suggest carpal tunnel syndrome and they affect your normal activities and sleep patterns, you should see your physician. If the condition remains untreated, you could have some permanent nerve and muscle damage.

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are some things you can do at home to treat the pain of your carpal tunnel syndrome. However, remember that if it keeps you awake at night or wakes you up in the middle of the night or if you cannot perform normal tasks, you should see your doctor- you may need surgery to correct the problem.

First of all, as much as possible, you should avoid performing repetitive tasks while you’re at home or at work. When you experience pain, apply a heating pad.

Also, consider purchasing a splint or brace that you can use when you’re experiencing a flare-up of symptoms. The splint/brace will remind you to be careful with movement of your wrist/hand. Another soothing treatment to reduce inflammation with carpal tunnel syndrome is ice. Consider alternating heat with ice.

Second, do some hand/wrist/finger exercises. Start by making slow circles with your hand at the wrist joint to restore blood flow to the hand and relieve the pressure placed on your hands from repetitive tasks.

You should do this exercise at least three times a day- or when you need to- to relieve the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. Some other exercises you can do are as follows:

• Raise your hands and rotate them at the joint of the wrist for 20 seconds in a clockwise motion- then reverse to a counterclockwise motion.
• Make a fist and open it a dozen times or more.
• Press your fingertips together, with your palms facing each other. Your fingertips will push your hands away from each other. Do this exercise 20 times, then rest for a minute and repeat.

Consider taking a vitamin supplement to reduce your symptoms of carpal tunnel. It has been said that high levels of vitamin B6 can help to reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel in most individuals.

Vitamin B6 is found naturally in foods like avocados, turkey, brown rice, sweet potatoes, salmon, bananas, and even sunflower seeds.

However, if you can’t seem to get enough Vitamin B6 naturally, you can take a supplement- 50 milligrams 2-3 times daily is recommended. Other supplements and herbs that have been proven to ease carpal tunnel symptoms include folic acid, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12, arnica, and broelain.

As mentioned before, repetitive motions can cause carpal tunnel symptoms, due to pinching/stressing of the carpal tunnel nerve in the wrist. Visit a professional trained in acupuncture or acupressure.

Both of these can relieve the pain associated with carpal tunnel by inserting needles (acupuncture) or applying pressure (acupressure) to the wrist, hands, thumbs, and arms. Additionally, you can deeply rub the area on the top of your wrist and forearm.

This will cause pain in the areas where pressure has been building up. Rubbing/massaging these areas will allow the muscles, tendons, and nerves to stretch and relax, which will reduce your wrist pain. You should do this several times a day, and you will begin to feel some relief within about a day.

As with most other conditions, drinking lots of water can help. When you get dehydrated, many problems can occur. When an area of your body gets inflamed, your body will send water to the point of inflammation to encourage healing.

Proper hydration will greatly reduce the pain that comes with dehydrated/inflamed muscles, including pain in the wrist associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. When you’re experiencing carpal tunnel pain, drink more water to ease the symptoms.

As mentioned above, acupuncture and acupressure are excellent treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. Chiropractic care can also be very effective. Consider visiting a chiropractor that does full body manipulations- that is, they don’t just focus on the spine.

Ask him/her about doing some adjustments to your wrist and elbow to ease the pressure on the nerves in the carpal tunnel and reduce the pain.

Finally, be aware of the posture of your arm and hand. If you bend your hand backward or forward at the wrist for long periods of time, this can cause pressure and stress on the nerves located in the carpal tunnel and cause pain.

Learn ways that you can keep your wrist/hand as straight as possible.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Explained

You should know that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or CTS for short, is a disorder that is characterized by tingling and numbness, along with some other symptoms, in the arm and hand. The disorder is attributed to a pinched nerve located in your wrist.

There are several factors that could cause or contribute to CTS syndrome, following are three of the most common:

• Wrist anatomy
• Hand use patterns
• Health problems

Something you should know is that the CTS is a very narrow passageway that is located on the palm side of your wrist. It is bound by bones and ligaments and protects the main nerve that goes to your hand as well as the nine tendons that bend your fingers. Compression of the nerves in this area results in the numbness, tingling, and eventual weakness that lead to the diagnosis of CTS syndrome.

For most people who develop CTS syndrome, the numbness and tingling can be relieved and normal functioning of their wrist and hand can be restored with the correct treatments.

What are the Common CTS Symptoms?

Usually, you will notice some intermittent tingling and/or numbness in your thumb, index, and middle fingers when CTS first starts out. You may also experience a bit of discomfort in your hand and wrist. The most common symptoms of CTS are as follows:

Numbness/Tingling

You will notice numbness/tingling in your fingers and hands. The fingers affected will be your thumb, index, middle, and ring finger. However, note that you will not have this numbness/tingling in your little finger. The sensation will primarily occur when you’re holding something and can cause some disruptions in your sleep. The sensation could also extend from your wrist up your arm. In the beginning, you may be able to shake your hand to relieve symptoms. However, as it gets worse, the numbness/tingling will become more constant.

Weakness

You may also notice that you have some weakness in the affected hand and be more likely to drop things. This could be due to the numbness or weakness in your thumb muscles, which are controlled by the median nerve.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms and signs of CTS and your daily activities or sleep patterns are being affected, you should definitely see your doctor. Keep in mind that if you don’t get your CTS treated early, you may have to go through surgery or you could end up with permanent muscle and nerve damage.

Who is at Risk for Developing CT Syndrome?

Individuals at risk for developing CTS include those who work on the computer all day, carpenters, mechanics, gardeners, and cashiers. Additionally, those who have problems with their back, neck, or shoulders are more likely to develop CTS syndrome. Women who are pregnant or going through menopause are much more likely to develop CTS than those who are not.

CTS can happen at any age, but is most common in individuals between the ages of 40-60. Women are much more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel, but men can get it. Additionally, excessive use of tobacco, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol also contribute to the development of carpal tunnel. Over half of all pregnant women will have symptoms of carpal tunnel- the condition will resolve itself after childbirth.

Using Massage Therapy to Treat CTS Syndrome

Studies have proven that symptoms of CTS can be reduced with massage therapy. Massage therapy is actually believed to increase energy, support the healing process, ease pain, enhance mood, well-being and relaxation, and to reduce the time it takes to recover following an injury. Massage can help to improve strength and significantly reduce symptoms and pain of CTS syndrome. Additionally, massage therapy can be used to relieve the pain from muscles in the shoulder or arm that mimics the symptoms of CTS syndrome.

How Does Massage Therapy Help CTS Syndrome?

According to studies, massage therapy can ease CTS symptoms and increase grip strength. The massage technique used in the studies consisted of using moderate pressure and stroking from the elbow to the fingertips. Patients reported improvements in their symptoms for at least four weeks following the treatment.

You can ease congestion in your wrist and encourage movement by performing a very simple “wrist-wringing” technique on yourself. To do this, simply clasp one wrist with your other hand and using a circular movement, massage it. Avoid any movements that cause pain and gently exercise your hands and arms to stretch them out.

You may want to consider some professional techniques to relieve the pressure on your nerves from inflamed tendons, as well as get excess fluid out of the wrist area. These professional techniques include: NMT, or Neuromuscular Therapy, and MFR, or Myofascial Release.

Studies have proven that both massage that is CTS targeted, as well as general massage can reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel. However, you should note that strength of grip was only increased in massage specifically geared to CTS syndrome.

Things to Keep in Mind Regarding CTS Massage

There are several things you must remember when you’re considering using massage to treat your CTS symptoms. First of all, direct manipulation of the nerve is extremely dangerous and can result in other problems. You should rarely apply direct pressure on the carpal tunnel region, and if you do, you must be very careful.

In addition to focusing on the wrist flexors or the carpal tunnel area, you should also pay attention to the upper area of the arm and the neck when using massage to treat CTS syndrome. There are several areas where the median nerve could be compressed, thereby irritating the nerve located at the carpal tunnel.

Massage is basically a very safe way to treat your CTS syndrome. Pain and other negative side effects are extremely rare and are caused by massage techniques that are overly vigorous.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of the median nerve which runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Its causes are uncertain, but it’s generally assumed that any position that causes stress on the nerve can be a cause. It is often worse from flexing the wrist.

The syndrome causes a feeling of numbness and pain in the thumb, pointer finger, long finger and parts of the ring finger. The only digit unaffected is the pinkie finger.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is diagnosed largely from the presence of suspect symptoms, like pain and numbness in the hand. To increase certainty, the syndrome does not have a blood test, but there are physical tests that a doctor will ask you to perform. The doctor actually also has some electrical tests that he or she can use as well.

Nerve Conduction velocity test

This isn’t a test specifically for carpal tunnel syndrome, but it is used to check for abnormalities in nerve responses that might indicate the presence of the syndrome. In this test, an electrical current is introduced to the nervous system and the speed with which it reaches nerves “downstream” is measured. A slow response is indicative of some kind of issue with the nervous system. The electrical stimulus is generally introduced through electrodes placed on the patient’s skin.

Electromyogram test

This is often conducted at the same time as the Nerve Conduction Velocity test. It is a test specifically designed to find any muscular conditions that may be mimicking nervous conditions. Muscles also produce electrical signals when they are active, and so electrical abnormalities might also point to muscular issues rather than nervous conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Blood tests

While, as mentioned, there isn’t a specific blood test to test for carpal tunnel, there are tests to check related issues. There is something thyroid hormone levels, a test to check blood sugar and protein analysis. As stated, none of these will be definitive of carpal tunnel, but they can point to it being more or less likely.

X-Rays

Again, because carpal tunnel syndrome is a nervous condition, X-rays will not be able to find it specifically. However, they can find bone and joint abnormalities in the bones of your wrist and therefore are able to give an indication that the syndrome exists.

Physical examination

However, the main indication that is used for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is the existence and medical examination of physical symptoms. This will include a general examination of the area as well as more specific physical tests.

A physical exam with a focus on your neck, arms, wrists, and hands is done if there is tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain of the fingers, thumb, or hand. The exam is to help find out whether your symptoms are caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist.

During this examination, a doctor will also examine your wrists and hands to compare the strength and appearance of both sides. You will then be asked to pinch an object so your doctor can see and check your thumb for strength and movement during this movement.

Not only is it important to isolate issues you are having in your hand from muscular or other physiological problems, it is also necessary to ensure that your pain is being caused by the median nerve rather than a different nerve in another part of your body. The neck, especially, can mimic carpal tunnel issues, so if your doctor suspects neck-related problems, he or she will also check your neck for possible nerve compression.

Tinel’s sign test

This test dates back to the early 1900s when physiologist Paul Hoffman found that mild percussion of an injured nerve could illicit the sensation of “pins and needles,” or a feeling like an electrical shock.

Your doctor taps on the inside of your wrist over the median nerve. If you feel tingling, numbness, “pins and needles,” or a mild “electrical shock” sensation in your hand when tapped on the wrist, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Phalen’s sign test

This test dates to the 1950s when physiologist George S. Phalen describe a new method for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome. The sensations caused by Tinel’s test might be caused by different nerves and not necessarily the median nerve which is affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. Therefore, by using Phalen’s test as well, you could be more specific with your diagnosis.

In the test, you will hold your arms out in front of you and then flex your wrists, letting your hands hang down for about 60 seconds. If you feel tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers within 60 seconds, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Two-point discrimination test

This test is used when severe carpal tunnel syndrome is suspected. It is not very accurate for mild carpal tunnel syndrome. To do the test, your doctor has you close your eyes and then uses small instruments, such as the tips of two opened paper clips, to touch two points (fairly close together) on your hand or finger. Typically, you would feel separate touches if the two points are at least 0.5 cm (0.2 in.) apart. In severe carpal tunnel syndrome, you may not be able to tell the difference between the two touches, so it may feel as though only one place is being touched.

Given our modern dependence on typing, carpal tunnel syndrome has become a more common issue. While treatment may be as straightforward as simply stopping the activity which causes the syndrome, sometimes more serious measures are required. These can include surgery to alleviate your symptoms, so it is good to be aware and catch the syndrome early, before it becomes severe enough to require more drastic measures to treat.

Further Reading

“Diseases and Conditions: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.” by Mayo Clinic Staff. Mayo clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20030332.

“Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.” by William C. Shiel, Jr. Medicinenet.com. http://www.medicinenet.com/carpal_tunnel_syndrome/article.htm.