Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects one of the primary nerves in the wrist area. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side of the hand. The leading cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is extra pressure on the median nerve at the wrist inside the tunnel. The extra pressure can come from swelling or inflammation of the contents inside the tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include wrist pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.
To better understand carpal tunnel syndrome and how to ease it, it's essential to start by understanding the risk factors that increase the chances of irritation or damage to the median nerve. They include:
- Anatomic factors: When you have a wrist fracture or dislocation or arthritis that deforms the small bones in the wrist, you may experience an alteration in the space within the carpal tunnel and put pressure on the median nerve. Similarly, people who have smaller carpal tunnels are more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Gender: Women are more prone to carpal tunnel syndrome as compared to men. This is because women have a relatively more minor carpal tunnel area than men.
- Inflammatory conditions: People with rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions that have inflammatory components are more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome. This is because they affect the lining around the tendons in the wrist and put pressure on the median nerve.
- Nerve-damaging conditions: Certain chronic diseases like diabetes increase the risk of nerve damage, including damage to the median nerve.
- Obesity: Being obese increases the risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Body fluid changes: Fluid retention may increase pressure within the carpal tunnel, irritating the median nerve. It is prevalent during pregnancy and menopause.
- Workplace factors: Working with vibrating tools that require prolonged or repetitive wrist flexing may create harmful pressure on the median nerve, especially when working in cold environments.
Easing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Although there are no proven strategies to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, you can apply various measures to help ease and minimize pressure on the hands and wrists. These methods are approved by chiropractic care. Have a look!
- Reduce your force and relax your grip: If your work involves typing using a keyboard, hit the keys softly. Consider using a big pen with an oversized, soft grip adapter and free-flowing ink when engaged in prolonged handwriting.
- Keyboard and mouse position: Avoid bending your wrist up or down. Ensure you maintain a relaxed middle position by keeping your keyboard at elbow height or slightly lower.Also ensure that your mouse is in a comfortable position to avoid straining your wrist.
- Improve your posture: Poor posture affects the wrists, fingers and hands. Ensure you are comfortable and not straining.
- Keep your hands warm: Cold environments may trigger your hands to hurt more. Try to control the temperatures by wearing warm gloves.
- Physical therapy: It helps strengthen muscles around your wrist and increase flexibility.
It's essential to ensure you get diagnoses and treatment to avoid permanent damage to your median nerve. Our chiropractic treatment will walk with you through the carpal tunnel syndrome recovery journey and offer therapy sessions and the best guide. Our professional chiropractors will focus on gentle manipulation of the wrist and elbow to help ease the pain.
To get more details on our chiropractic practices focused on carpal tunnel syndrome, contact Dr. Jason Jones at our Chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC.
