Carpal tunnel syndrome is a type of nerve disorder where you feel a tingling or numbing sensation in your palm as well as fingers. In most cases, you may also feel a significant amount of pain.
It is possible to ease your symptoms and treat the condition completely. A few lifestyle changes and some everyday tips and tricks will help you keep the condition under control. However, in case nothing helps, a physiotherapist or a doctor can provide the necessary relief through specific treatment.
1. Take Breaks In Between
Make sure to take regular breaks between your work, such as typing on the keyboard, writing, using a gadget, or doing anything where you have to use your hand. Take a break every 20 minutes or so, and every 15 minutes if you experience pain. Stop whatever it is that you are doing and flex your fingers and rotate your wrist.
2. Stretching
You can always do simple stretching exercises for your wrist and fingers, no matter where you are. Whether you are working, are waiting in a queue, are watching a movie or are reading a book, open and close your fingers and give them a nice stretch. Close your fingers to make a fist and then open them again one by one till you feel the stretch.
3. Keep Your Hands Warm
Heat treatment can effectively reduce pain and any form of swelling. In order to ease your palm and finger from the discomfort of carpal tunnel syndrome, wear a glove or use a warmer to keep your hands warm, especially in the colder months. You can also keep warming your fingers around hot mugs of tea or coffee to avoid any stiffness.
4. Over The Counter Painkillers
Unless you are suffering from any other type of health condition, it is alright to take over the counter (OTC) painkillers occasionally, to help you ease the pain. Not just the pain, the medication can also help to reduce swelling around the nerve area and thus reduce your discomfort.
5. Keep It Elevated
Keeping your wrist in an elevated position can also help to bring down the pain, as well as the tingling and numbing feeling. If you are experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome after a fracture, or while you are pregnant, this method will be of greater use.
6. Reduce The Stress
If you regularly do activities that add stress and pressure to your wrist, take a break. Avoid lifting heavy objects or making too tight a grip, as it can put undue stress on the affected area and aggravate your pain. If you always have to use a pen, switch to one with a soft grip, if you are always on the keyboard, get one with soft keys that do not require too much pressure.
While the above tips can help bring down the pain and discomfort associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, these are not permanent treatment options. If you do not see any improvement, you can book a session with our physiotherapist to understand about specific exercises that can help ease your condition.
