Carpal tunnel syndrome has causes. Maybe you have only one cause and maybe you have more than one.
If you can figure out the causes of your symptoms, you can get rid of them. That lets you get rid of your carpal tunnel pain.
Muscles and whole body issues are usually to blame but occasionally people do have a medical problem that requires help from a doctor such as an auto-immune disease or broken bones.
Here are seven things you can do to figure out the causes of your symptoms.
1. Discovering.
Learn about the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Problems around
the carpal tunnel area can cause a variety of symptoms in your hand.
(A “syndrome” is a collection of symptoms.) You may have heard the
phrase “knowledge is power.” With CTS, it could not be more true.
2. Moving.
Devote some time to exercise every day. Wait–don’t go!
Many people cringe at the thought of exercise because they are looking at too large of a picture.
Start small.
Your arms and hands and shoulders are a great place to start. Your goal should be to start with the underdeveloped muscles in your arms, back and hands.
You may be thinking, “How are simple strengthening exercises going to help prevent carpal tunnel pain?”
Carpal tunnel syndrome starts because our muscles get “out of balance.” Some get weak and others get too tight.
A good goal is to use your muscles in different ways every day. Think
about moving in many different directions, rather than the same ways
over and over.
3. Stretching.
By stretching the muscles in your arms and wrists on a daily basis, you can prevent your carpal tunnel area pain from getting worse.
Stretching reduces the pressure in your wrists and on the nerves and blood vessels associated with CTS.
Additionally, stretching makes you more flexible and less prone to other injuries. Tip: stretch in the opposite direction of the way you usually hold your arms and hands.
4. Getting with the program.
I’ve updated and re-published my carpal tunnel program for you. Click this link to discover simple, easy, self-help Carpal Tunnel Natural Relief. You can get rid of your carpal tunnel pain naturally and forever with simple movements and nutritional changes and a few more things!
5. Taking five.
Take a break. Just a five minute break can make a big difference. After 30-40 minutes of a project or task (or less) a brief break allows your joints and muscles to rest. Also, moving in a different way during this break will get your circulation moving and help reduce pain in your carpal tunnel area (and elsewhere.) Move in the opposite posture.
6. Setting limits.
In addition to taking a break, setting a limit on the amount of time a
task or project is performed is very beneficial. I read about one
woman who had her computer shut itself off every 15 minutes. Every 15 minutes she would take a brief break which eliminated a lot of the pain in her carpal tunnel.
7. Using good ergonomics.
Sometimes it’s not the equipment as much as poor habits for positioning ourselves. Learning how to sit at your keyboard or work station in the correct positions is important. I like to use NadaChair (it’s not-a-chair, it’s kind of a support belt) when I’m sitting at the computer for long periods. It supports behind my waist and helps keep me in better posture. Better posture = less pain of all sorts.
Use these 7 steps and start to get natural carpal tunnel pain relief!