According to pain management experts in Miami, preventing carpal tunnel syndrome is challenging because so much of daily activities are dependent on the use of hands. The good news is, there are some easy and actionable measures you can do to prevent the worsening of this painful and limiting condition.
Data from the American College of Rheumatology shows that 4 – 10 million Americans suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition appears to be the most prevalent nerve disorder being experienced by middle-aged and older people.
According to the National Health Institutes, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most expensive upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorder. The treatment and hospitalization cost for this condition exceeds $2 billion a year in the United States.
Here are some things you can do to prevent your carpal tunnel syndrome from getting worse:
- Stretch your hands as often as you can.
If you’ve been working with your hands for hours, take breaks and perform hand exercises. One effective exercise is to make a fist and then release your fingers one by one, stretching these as far as you can.
Also, shake your fingers and wrist from time to time to relax the tendons and muscles. This simple activity will help ease the building pressure in the carpal tunnel that may pinch the median nerve. - Wear wrist support to manage pain.
Sometimes, pain and discomfort cannot be avoided, especially if you’ve been working too hard or continuously using your hands. Try to use wrist support as this can help set your wrist back to the neutral position and take the pressure off the median nerve.
If you don’t have wrist support, you can fashion a wrist splint for mild carpal tunnel syndrome pain. Experts said that wearing a splint can help prevent the wrist muscles from becoming too weak. It also reduces hand stiffness.
Keeping your wrist straight when sleeping can prove difficult, as you are not consciously aware of your wrist position when asleep. Wrist supports, or wrist splints, can solve this problem. - Be aware of your posture.
How do you sit when you’re working at your desk? Where do your hands rest? How is your posture as you settle in your work station? Poor posture can actually contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome as the position of the shoulders, hands, and back may set off a chain of events that cause parts of your body to compensate. - Try to soften your grip.
A strong grip, especially when the wrist is flexed, can increase the pressure against the median nerve. When holding and using tools, keep your wrist straight. If you’re pounding away on the keyboard, observe how tense your hands feel and adjust accordingly. Do not bend or curl your wrist when typing. Your wrists must be as relaxed as possible.
If these measures fail to manage the pain and discomfort in your hands and wrists, you might need to consult an expert in regenerative medicine in Miami. There are several regenerative treatment options that can help ease your symptoms so you can regain the optimum function of your hands and wrists.