An Overview of Repetitive Stress Disorder Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

When you think about carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be surprised that many people suffer from at least a small degree of it. It might manifest in the form of a tingling in the fingers or actual pain in the hand or wrist, and it cab be merely annoying to agonizing. It is possible to miss work due to problems with carpal tunnel syndrome, and though surgery is required for more extreme cases, you’ll find that there are many non surgical treatments that the doctor might offer you as well.

If you think you have symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, see your doctor for a diagnosis. They will perform tests to check your pain levels when your wrists are flexed and extended. They will also check for nerve sensitivity and fine motor skills. Once you are diagnosed with this condition, it will be time to begin treating it.

Because carpal tunnel syndrome can be a symptom of diabetes or arthritis, these issues get primacy when it comes to treatment; they can make carpal tunnel syndrome worse.

The first treatment is rest. Your doctor may advise you to rest your wrist for at least two weeks. This means you need to avoid any activities that make your symptoms worse. This may mean no typing, computer, knitting or other activity that you are used to doing. Ask at work if there is some alternative task you can perform that won’t irritate your problem.

When you want to treat your condition without surgery, you’ll find that wrist splints can help you keep your wrist still. You can get these at your local pharmacy or you can go to a physical therapist and have a prescription brace made specifically. Some people find that the brace is ideal when they are sleeping, while there are people use them during the day to keep the condition from getting worse.

If there is any inflammation in the area when your doctor goes to check it, he or she may suggest that you take NSAIDS, which are anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen, aspirin and and acetominphen are all NSAIDS and they are designed to help relieve pain and swelling. Other doctors will suggest diuretics, depending on your specific case, and you may find that this can give you temporary relief. If you have diabetes or you are at risk for developing such, you’ll discover that drugs can make regulating your blood sugar difficult, so be careful. Vitamin B6 can also help you ease the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and when in doubt an ice pack can also bring down your swelling and help you reduce pain. These are all treatments to consider.

Alternative therapies such as chiropractic care and acupuncture have proven effective for some patients. Yoga also has been shown to help improve your grip strength and reduce pain. Check into local practitioners in your area and ask if they have helped others with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Once you’ve dealt with the pain issues, stretching and exercise is very effective at keeping the carpal tunnel free from compression. You may need to meet with a physical therapist who can teach you the exercises. In some cases, you may need to do a course of treatment with a physical therapist.

What makes carpal tunnel syndrome a repetitive stress disorder? It is a RSD in that it is caused by performing reptitive motion, such as playing racket sports, or working on an assembly line repeating the same action over and over again. There are many different levels of treatment in trying to relieve the pain of CTS, but one easy, effective treatment is simply practicing carpal tunnel syndrome exercises.