Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What Is It?
Carpal tunnel syndrome or CTS is a type of medical condition in which the median nerve gets pinched or compressed at the wrist. The median nerve is one of the three major nerves that run through your upper limbs. When this nerve gets pinched or compressed while passing through a narrow space called the carpal tunnel in your wrist, you get carpal tunnel syndrome. It most commonly affects the hands or the wrist, but your elbow or shoulder region may be affected by carpal tunnel syndrome as well. The tendons that affect the movement of the thumb and the first three fingers also pass through the carpal tunnel, so compression in the median affects them as well. It has a few commonly reported symptoms as listed below (1).
pain in the hand or wrist numbness a tingling sensation reduced grip strength and hand functionality
A pre-existing medical condition like hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes may put you at a higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive hand movements may also lead to carpal tunnel syndrome (1). The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually occur in the hands and fingers. If you experience symptoms like pain and tingling in the hands and feet, it is better to consult a doctor to prevent the risk of any underlying health concerns. A study states that carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects 1-5% of the general population, with a higher prevalence in females (3:1 female-to-male ratio). Obesity doubles the risk of developing CTS. Typically, CTS manifests in adults aged 40 to 60, and it’s uncommon in children. “It’s also important that you rule out neck problems if you have symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome,” states Dr. Dave Candy, physical therapist. He further adds, “Some neck-related disorders such as pinched C6 or C7 nerve root can cause symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s important to see a healthcare professional to make sure you get a proper diagnosis.” Check out the following section to unravel what factors may cause this syndrome.
Causes Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) mainly occurs when the median nerve in the wrist’s narrow carpal tunnel gets compressed. Here are some causes behind that.
Poor ergonomics at the workplace that leads to improper positioning of hands and wrists while performing tasks. Prolonged exposure to vibrating tools or machinery. Prolonged, forceful, or awkward hand positions. Dislocation or instability of the nearby joints. Wrist injuries or trauma, such as fractures and sprains. Metabolic disorders such as high blood pressure or elevated levels of certain lipids. Hormonal changes, pregnancy, and obesity. Genetic predisposition and certain anatomical factors such as a smaller carpal tunnel.
Note: Carpal tunnel syndrome is sometimes confused with cubital tunnel syndrome. While both these conditions impact your hands and wrist, they affect different nerves. The former impacts the median nerve (runs from the armpit down the arm), while the latter impacts the ulnar nerve (runs down the front of the upper arm). Understanding these causes can help prevent and manage Carpal Tunnel Syndrome effectively. Now that we know what carpal tunnel syndrome is and what leads to it, let’s see what home remedies for carpal tunnel can bring you relief.
Home Remedies For Carpal Tunnel Relief
There are certain things you can do at home for carpal tunnel pain relief. Generally, the sooner you are aware of how to help carpal tunnel, the better the chances of recovery.
Wear Wrist Splints Or Braces
Wrist splints or braces are commonly recommended by doctors as a carpal tunnel remedy for mild to moderate cases. It can help to hold your wrists in a neutral position and provide relief as well as keep the symptoms from worsening. You can wear braces to bed as that would prevent you from bending your wrist in your sleep. In case you engage in daily activities that flare up your triggers, you can wear it during the daytime as well. It generally takes between 3 to 4 weeks for the symptoms to improve (2).
Do Nerve Gliding Exercises
The evidence on the effectiveness of nerve gliding exercises is a little unclear due to the lack of quality trials and studies. However, a research review suggests that there is a positive trend between symptomatic carpal tunnel relief and nerve gliding exercises (3). There are various nerve gliding exercises you can do if you want to treat carpal tunnel at home. Here’s one that you can practice.
Be Aware Of Your Posture
When you bend your shoulders forward too much, you can trigger a chain reaction to worsen your carpal tunnel syndrome. A 2009 study found that carpal tunnel syndrome was correlated with having a forward head posture and decreased neck range of motion (4). Although a cause-effect relationship can’t be drawn from this study, maintaining a proper posture or improving your posture is a good thing to do in general, and it might even help relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. There is some evidence to suggest that keeping your wrists in non-neutral positions for prolonged periods may increase the risk as well as the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (5). So, try to ensure that you are holding your wrist in the neutral position as much as possible.
Get Some Gentle Stretches With Yoga
There is some research-based evidence to suggest that yoga may help to ease the pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome and improve grip strength. Yoga postures that help to mobilize the shoulders, neck, hands, and wrist may be beneficial. The gentle stretching that you get with yoga may help to relieve the compression on the carpal tunnel. It may also improve blood flow and joint posture, both of which can have a positive effect on carpal tunnel treatment (6).
Apply Topical Pain Relief Gels/Creams On Affected Area
In a study on workers with carpal tunnel syndrome, researchers found that the application of topical menthol could significantly lower the pain during the workday (7). There is evidence from another study suggesting that flaxseed oil-based topical gels can also significantly reduce pain and make the symptoms manageable (8). So you slather on either a menthol-based or a flaxseed-based pain relief gel when your triggers flare up and cause you pain.
Use A Low-level Heat Wrap
Research has found that a low-level heat wrap is effective in reducing pain quickly, and improving grip and function when used as a home remedy for carpal tunnel (9). To make a heat wrap at home, follow these steps: Sometimes, even if you know how to treat carpal tunnel at home, you may have to resort to medication. Let’s see what over-the-counter medicine you can take to help you alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Over-The-Counter Medications To Help Carpal Tunnel Symptoms
Aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen are the most common non-prescription medications that you can get from a pharmacy for treating carpal tunnel syndrome at home. These generally provide temporary relief and long-term or repeated use is not recommended (1). It is also important to be cautious about using aspirin if you take any blood thinner as a prescription drug (10). Carpal tunnel may lead to complications, so it is important to know when to stop trying to treat it on your own and consult a medical professional.
When To See The Doctor
Home remedies for carpal tunnel may not be effective for all. If you have tried these home remedies and are finding your symptoms worsening or not improving within one or two weeks, you should seek medical help. You may visit your general physician or directly make an appointment with an orthopedic doctor who specializes in the treatment of joints, bones, and muscles.
Diagnosis Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When you visit the doctor, you may be asked a list of questions to determine whether or not you have the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. This step is followed up with a decision tree which helps to identify whether further investigation is required or not (1). The doctor may also conduct a physical examination which includes the flick sign, Phalen test, and median nerve compression test. In certain irregular cases, you may be asked to undergo ultrasonography or electrodiagnostic studies to rule out other possible causes for your symptoms (11). You may be wondering whether the doctor will recommend surgery or not in case you do have carpal tunnel syndrome. Let’s see if the carpal tunnel can be treated without surgical intervention.
Does Carpal Tunnel Go Away Without Surgery?
Mild to moderate cases of carpal tunnel may be effectively managed with non-surgical treatments that include splints and corticosteroid injections. Surgery is only recommended by doctors when such therapies are unsuccessful even after six months or when it is a case of severe carpal tunnel syndrome (11). Darrel Allen, a registered nurse and guitarist as well as YouTuber, shared his experience about dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome in his video. He said, “In my job of course, it’s so important if you’re handing instruments to a surgeon during a surgery that you have to have that tactile sensation and the final straw for me was I was getting ready to hand an instrument to the surgeon and as my hand reached his hand, I realized that there was nothing in my hand. And I looked down and I had dropped an instrument and didn’t even feel it leave my hand (i).” After undergoing a surgery, he added, “It’s amazing, the results for me were immediate. The very first night after surgery I had an entire night’s sleep for the first time in probably six months, that I had a full night’s sleep without waking up and having my hand throbbing. So it’s pretty dramatic.” Is massage good for carpal tunnel? Yes, massage is good for carpal tunnel. It relieves pain, inflammation, and numbness. Does Epsom salt help carpal tunnel? Yes. Epsom salt helps relieve the pain associated with carpal tunnel. Soaking the hands and wrists in warm water and Epsom salt for 15 minutes alleviates the pain and numbness. Can turmeric help with carpal tunnel? Yes. Turmeric helps relieve the pain and inflammation associated with carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause pain and numbness in the wrist and further increase discomfort additional applied pressure. Watch the following video to get a better understanding of the symptoms and risk factors of CTS.
