Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a medical condition in which the person suffers from painful compression of the median nerve at the wrist. The condition affects the wrist and the hand.

Experts believe that constant typing on computer without ample rest to hands is one of the major reasons of CTS. It is also known as median neuropathy at the wrist.

Signs and Symptoms

The hand experiences loss of strength to maintain a grip. Due to inability to hold things carefully, the objects get dropped from the hands. The person may feel disturbed during sleep due to numbness in the hands and the wrist.

The hands have poor blood circulation. Often, shoulders and neck ache too. The symptoms become significant during night.

Treatment

Cortisone injection is given to reduce inflammation around the wrist. Anti inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) prove to be helpful in reducing the pain and the inflammation. Wearing a wrist brace is recommended especially during night. This helps to keep the carpel tunnel at a neutral position.

Remedies and Exercises

Symptoms of CTS include with weight gain. Also, it has been found that those who are overweight tend to suffer more from the symptoms. Hence, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly to keep excess flab away.

Do not over exert your hands. Take frequent small breaks. During these breaks shake our hands a little. Open-close the palm several times. This will improve the circulation and decrease the risk.

The symptoms are at peak during night when the fluids in the body are redistributing. Try to keep your hands under your pillow or be tucked within the sheets. This helps in reducing the numbness.

It is advised that doing weight lifts for the wrist may help in decreasing the numbness. Many patients have observed increase in strength with these exercises.

These include arm curls, palm down wrist curls and palm-up wrist curls. For arm curls; while standing hold weights, palms facing each other. By keeping wrists in place, curl your arms as per your strength.

For palm-up wrist curls place your forearms on a table. Hold the weights in the palm and curl it upwards as per your strength. Do one wrist at a time. Likewise, palm-down wrist curl can also be done.