Top Tips To Treat And Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What is the difference between Elton John and a computer operator? Give up? Well, all the piano players are a lot less likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). If we typed, price-scanned, or sewed the way piano players tickle the ivories, wrists straight, hands and fingers almost level with the keyboard, this debilitating wrist injury could often be prevented. The carpal tunnel is a passageway that leads through your wrist. Nine tendons plus the median curve which feeds motor and sensory impulses to the thumb, index finger, third finger, and half of the ring finger run through this tunnel of bone and ligament. If you have CTS, the tissues in this tunnel swell, compressing the median nerve.

This pressure means that the median nerve can’t translate electrical impulses from the brain as well as it should. Think of the median nerve as a radio or TV cable. If it stops sending a clear signal, you get static. Faulty signals from a compressed median nerve can cause tingling, numbness, and pain in the fingers, wrist, and even the forearm. Many people think of CTS as an occupational hazard, caused by too much time at the computer. But any repetitive stress on the wrist such as needlepoint, steady driving, and even golf can trigger carpal tunnel syndrome. And continual wrist-twisting is not the only culprit. The so-called passive form of CTS is caused by health conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, arthritis, and even pregnancy.

CTS may sound scary to some people. However here are some ways to find relief.

Put the ache on ice. Fill a plastic bag with ice, wrap it in a thin towel, and vigorously rub it over the top of your wrist. The ice helps reduce fluid retention around the ligament that covers the carpal tunnel, which reduces the pressure on the median nerve.

Keep your wrist in neutral. Wear a wrist splint. You will find wrist splints in any drugstore. Make sure that the splint you buy keeps your wrist absolutely straight. When you rest your splinted hand, palm up, on a table, it should lie flat, with your wrist in line with your forearm. Wear the splint at night, too. Many people with CTS flex their wrists when they sleep, irritating the median nerves.

Try B6. Take 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 twice a day. People with carpal tunnel syndrome tend to be deficient in this vitamin, which is associated with nerve function. Some people with CTS can get dramatic relief with B6. Nerves seem to respond to this specific vitamin, although we are not sure why. Bear in mind to consult your physician before taking this much vitamin B6. High dosages of the vitamin can cause numbness in the feet and unco-ordination when walking.

Reach for the sky. Keep your hands above the level of your heart as often as you can. Accumulated fluid in your hands can increase the pressure on the median nerve. When you sit on your couch, for example, rest your elbows and hands on top of the backrest rather than keeping your hands in your lap. Also raise your hands two or three times a day for a few minutes to help prevent numbness and tingling.