Ever feel your fingers start to tingle, or even go numb? You might try shaking out your hand to get that pins and needles feeling to go away, but it doesn’t help. Maybe you find yourself dropping light objects, like pens? It’s possible you are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Many of us are guilty of spending way too much time typing at a computer, but that’s not the only way you can overdo it. Maybe you work at a warehouse and constantly wrap fragile objects. You might repeat that motion hundreds of times of day.
Do you have to use a tape gun several times an hour? Or fill out lots of forms by hand or computer? Perhaps you like to sew or knit, and decided to work on a special holiday project for more time than you are used to.
Any job or hobby where you perform the same repetitive motions over and over can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
What Is The Carpal Tunnel?
To find this affected area, hold out your hand and turn it so the palm faces upward. Imagine a “tunnel” of ligaments, bones, nerves, and tendons that go from the wrist to the hand. The median nerve runs the length of arm. Performing the same motions over and over can compress the median nerve, causing swelling that can pinch the nerve at your wrist. This can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
Symptoms Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The most common symptoms include feelings of numbness or tingling in your fingers, especially thumb, index and middle fingers. Someone people experience the feeling of swelling, even though their hands and wrists don’t appear to be enlarged. Others have a “shock” sensation in their fingers.
Many people suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome find that actions like reading a newspaper or driving can also cause pain or weakness. These feelings can worsen at night, causing sleep disruptions.
Because hand discomfort can have many causes, be sure to check in with your chiropractor to get a proper diagnosis. Nerve irritation in the neck can also cause numbness. You may also need x-rays to rule out a structural injury like a broken bone.
Ways To Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Take breaks – Consider taking a short break for every hour on the computer. Try gentle stretching your hands and wrists during these times.
Ergonomic adjustments – Instead of leaning over a laptop, invest in a keyboard, mouse, and padded wrist pad. This can help put less pressure on your hands.
Change your hand position – If you are at a desk, you want to type with your keyboard a little bit lower than your elbow. Raise your chair or add a cushion.
Splints – Try a special wrist splint while you sleep at night. You can also try wearing a splint while doing the repetitive work to see if it eases pain.
Heat/Ice – Try alternating hot and cold treatments for 20 minutes at a time.
We’re Here To Help
If you’re suffering from hand and wrist pain and tingling from carpal tunnel syndrome, we can help get your body back to normal. With our therapeutic massage therapy, electric muscle stimulation and spinal manipulation, we can help alleviate the pain and get your hands and wrists back to working the way they’re supposed to.
Call 417 Spine to schedule an appointment and start conquering your pain.
