Guest Post by Tracy Hartley PT, DPT
Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome is a lot easier than treating this repetitive strain injury. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that occurs when the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel as it passes through the wrist. The median nerve is responsible for controlling several thumb muscles and sensation in part of the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include:
- Vague pain in the hand or palm that occurs first as an early warning sign.
- Tingling burning sensation in the palm, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the inside half of the ring finger. This usually occurs at night first, especially if you sleep with your wrists flexed.
- Numbness in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the inside half of the ring finger.
- Weak grip.
- The median nerve does not innervate the little finger. Therefore, your pinky is spared.
Carpal tunnel treatment can be surgical or non-surgical. Success favors surgery at this point.
Prevention is clearly the preferential approach to carpal tunnel syndrome. Here are the key steps to prevent this from happening to you:
- Vary tasks. Frequently change repetitive tasks or job stations. Repetition is the most common risk factor.
- Perform exercises. Stretch your wrist the opposite direction of the repetitive task for 30 seconds, 3 times each during your breaks.
- Stay warm. Wear gloves or fingerless gloves. Risk increases in cold environments.
- Prevent wrist injuries. Adjust desk height to 27 to 29 inches for most people. Work with elbows at your side. Support your forearm if you mouse and type for an extended period (aka the blogger injury).
- Relax your grip. Practice lessening your grip when repeating tasks. Take a break and shake out your hands to get them to relax. Or head over to the spa for an iPhone massage…yes, it does exist!
Read more from Tracy and his nurse wife Jana at A Doctor and a Nurse.
Have any tips for hand relief? Share them in the comments section below!
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Ok I know this sounds ridiculously silly but — I do my own mani/pedis and give myself a bi-weekly massage with a dead sea salt scrub to increase circulation and, as a bonus — I suspect it may help prevent strain and stress from excessive typing/texting/etc… at the least it makes my hands uber soft 😉 haha
maybe this is another excuse to do planks and pushups? stretching our hands? hehe
Keep up the planks and pushups! Never heard of anyone than can make these activities into an overuse situation to cause CTS. Kind of like over strengthening your abs!
I find that hot yoga is a remedy for all types of malaise, this included. It has cured me of many health issues even when surgery did not.
So timely for me as I just started experiencing some hand numbness! I don’t think I’m too far gone yet so that I need surgery, but it’s brought a new awareness to how I treat my hands and wrists and I’ve been giving them lots of yoga stretching love!
Sabrina, A bit of an occupational hazard for a blogger. Jana has had some symptoms as well. It is good that you are aware of your symptoms as you can reverse them with your yoga love and variable activity and rest. Best wishes, Tracy