Many people who get carpal tunnel syndrome are diagnosed as having it caused by work tasks. Careers that require repetitive hand use for hours and hours can bring on CTS. If you find that you are getting this painful and possibly debilitating condition from work, there are preventive measures that you can take that may relieve your symptoms.
Start by cutting back on the routine tasks that go hand in hand with carpal tunnel syndrome. If possible, avoid using that hand for anything, save when absolutely necessary; and this should last for at least a few days, and a week or more is strongly recommended. The aim is to release the pressure on swollen tendon sheathes, which are the root cause of the problem. If your dominant hand is the one with the wounded wrist, this can be something of a challenge.
Working on a computer is a recipe for carpal tunnel syndrome if you don't take care to be properly ergonomic in your workspace layout. Make sure that your elbows are supported on arm wrests, that there's a wrist rest in front of your keyboard, and that you keep your forearms level when typing. Buying wrist braces can help considerably; one of the big contributors to carpal tunnel syndrome is letting your hands (and wrists) lay on the hard edge of a desk while typing. Another thing to do is buy a trackball rather than a mouse. It'll take you a few days to get used to it, but your wrists will be much happier for it, as will your elbow and shoulder.
Even with ergonomics working in your favor, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis in the elbows and forearms can be persistent. Give yourself breaks every 40 to 50 minutes to stand up, walk around, stretch your wrists and forearms out, and to roll your shoulders. You want to stretch out the areas of the wrist before inflammation sets in and the medial nerve gets compressed again. You also want to build up blood flow in the area. The breaks also keep you from pushing yourself too hard when typing or editing. Whenever you can, massage your hands and wrists, and do some strengthening exercises.
At night when you sleep, you should try wearing a splint of some kind to prevent any wrist movement that could cause more irritation or inflammation. Do this for up to two weeks and see what your results are. Some people with CTS find it helpful to hang their hand over the edge of the bed while they sleep. This can relieve pressure. At home when you are awake, use something like Icy Hot on the injured wrist, or just use alternating applications of heat and cold.
These work-related preventive measures work well for some people, but there are other things that you can try. Specially developed CTS exercises are non-invasive and drug free. They don't involve immobilization. They are designed to be used to strengthen the hand and wrist so that CTS symptoms fade away and future possibilities of getting carpal tunnel syndrome are prevented. It is likely that these will be even more effective for you. - 29951
Start by cutting back on the routine tasks that go hand in hand with carpal tunnel syndrome. If possible, avoid using that hand for anything, save when absolutely necessary; and this should last for at least a few days, and a week or more is strongly recommended. The aim is to release the pressure on swollen tendon sheathes, which are the root cause of the problem. If your dominant hand is the one with the wounded wrist, this can be something of a challenge.
Working on a computer is a recipe for carpal tunnel syndrome if you don't take care to be properly ergonomic in your workspace layout. Make sure that your elbows are supported on arm wrests, that there's a wrist rest in front of your keyboard, and that you keep your forearms level when typing. Buying wrist braces can help considerably; one of the big contributors to carpal tunnel syndrome is letting your hands (and wrists) lay on the hard edge of a desk while typing. Another thing to do is buy a trackball rather than a mouse. It'll take you a few days to get used to it, but your wrists will be much happier for it, as will your elbow and shoulder.
Even with ergonomics working in your favor, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis in the elbows and forearms can be persistent. Give yourself breaks every 40 to 50 minutes to stand up, walk around, stretch your wrists and forearms out, and to roll your shoulders. You want to stretch out the areas of the wrist before inflammation sets in and the medial nerve gets compressed again. You also want to build up blood flow in the area. The breaks also keep you from pushing yourself too hard when typing or editing. Whenever you can, massage your hands and wrists, and do some strengthening exercises.
At night when you sleep, you should try wearing a splint of some kind to prevent any wrist movement that could cause more irritation or inflammation. Do this for up to two weeks and see what your results are. Some people with CTS find it helpful to hang their hand over the edge of the bed while they sleep. This can relieve pressure. At home when you are awake, use something like Icy Hot on the injured wrist, or just use alternating applications of heat and cold.
These work-related preventive measures work well for some people, but there are other things that you can try. Specially developed CTS exercises are non-invasive and drug free. They don't involve immobilization. They are designed to be used to strengthen the hand and wrist so that CTS symptoms fade away and future possibilities of getting carpal tunnel syndrome are prevented. It is likely that these will be even more effective for you. - 29951
About the Author:
Tom Nicholson has been helping those who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome find easy, effective methods of treatment for years. Let him show you some simple and easy carpal tunnel exercises that can ease your uncomfortable symptoms. Learn what so many people have already learned - treatment doesn't have to be invasive or costly to work!
