Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Common Treatments

One of the most painful and annoying issues from which you can suffer is carpal tunnel syndrome. It can provide you with an innumerable amount of types of pain, as well as causing you to not be nearly as productive at your job or studies. Luckily, there are numerous treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome; some invasive, other proactive. 

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is probably the most common type of treatment used towards reducing the severity of symptoms and issues associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Physical therapy often occurs in clinics and is usually administered by an occupational therapist (although this is not always the case). There are a number of different types of treatments used that fall under the rubric of physical therapy. Among the types of physical therapy that you might receive that will be used to treat your carpal tunnel syndrome include range of motion exercises, ultrasound therapy, and even exercises that are as simple as stretching; in fact, a good deal of the exercises you will be doing in order to ameliorate the symptoms and alleviate the pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome are simple stretches.

Home Remedies

Home remedies should often be used in conjunction with physical therapy and should only be used under the recommendation and advice of your therapist or presiding physician. Sometimes, these home remedies are considered preventative measures or actions that you should refrain from doing so you do not exacerbate the symptoms and pain that is generally associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

This means abstaining from activities that  may have caused your carpal tunnel syndrome in the first place. Refrain from engaging in activities that cause an undue amount of stress on your wrists and fingers, such as typing, playing video games, or in some instance, playing instruments. It may also be recommended that you wear a simple and removable wrist splint at home, or at least while engaging in activities that might exacerbate the issues associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Medicines

Again, you should only consume medicines for carpal tunnel syndrome if they are recommended or prescribed by your presiding physician. There are various OTC medicines that might work towards alleviating the pain that you experience as someone suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.

Make sure that the medicines that you consume are anti-inflammatory medications that are nonsteroidal – as steroid laden medicines will generally only serve to ultimately increase inflammation – unless it is recommended by your presiding physician that you should take such medications (or, if you are prescribed one).

Your presiding physician may take into consideration that fact that you need corticosteroid oral medication, or you might require corticosteroid injections directly into the area affected by carpal tunnel syndrome, depending on the case.

Surgery

Surgery often is only considered to be a last option when it comes to carpal tunnel syndrome and should only be performed under the strict guidance and recommendation of your presiding physician.

Generally, surgery is only performed on carpal tunnel syndrome patients if they have received some degree damage to their nerves due to the issue, meaning there is constant numbness, or the prospect permanently damaging their nerves is quite severe.