Carpal Tunnel Syndrome causes pain and pressure in your wrist making it difficult to perform everyday tasks, let alone compete in a sport. There are many forms of carpal tunnel treatment, some can even be done at home, but if your symptoms are serious you may need to talk to doctor.
- Home Treatment: If the symptoms are mild you should be able to treat carpal tunnel syndrome at home. Wearing a wrist splint could help minimize the pressure on the nerve and prevent you from movement that make your symptoms worse. The splint could be worn during sleep in order to reduce pain. However, a wrist splint is only a short-term treatment for carpal tunnel since long term use could cause your muscles to weaken. If you use a wrist splint make sure to exercise your hand and wrist to prevent them from weakening too much. If your sympttoms are mild then one to two weeks of home treatment should relieve your pain and pressure.
- Physical Therapy and Medicines are another possible treatments for the pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Stretching, range-of-motion exercises, and even ultrasound treatment can help relax the muscles and relieve you pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids are an option as well.
- Surgery: If other treatments are ineffective then you may have to get surgery.
Sometimes the simplest way to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome is to change your habits. Many heath conditions can increase your chance of getting carpal tunnel so it is important to exercise and stay at a healthy weight. Avoid smoking as well. If you spend a lot of time typing make sure that you follow ergonomic guidelines and take breaks to stretch. Some other risks that increase your chance of getting carpal tunnel are:
- Repetitive motions
- Use of vibrating tools such as sanders
- Bending your wrist during sleep
Mueller Sports Medicine provides high quality medical supplies to athletes across the globe, including wrist splints that will help treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Please feel free to contact us.