Do you have pain in your wrist, hand and/or arm?
Do you suspect carpal tunnel syndrome?
Have you thought about why you have this carpal tunnel area pain?
We put lots of strain on the muscles in our lower arm during the course of our day. Maybe your arm is flexed while you carry bags or babies. Maybe your arms are bent at work.
Perhaps you play golf or tennis. Maybe you sleep with your arms curled up at your chest.
When we use these positions, the muscles in our lower arms can get over-used or shortened.
These muscles are attached to your wrist and hand, and can cause pain simply by being tight and pulling on bones they are attached to. This pain can seem like carpal tunnel symptoms.
These forearm (lower arm) muscles also can get so crabby that they start to refer pain to your arm and hand.
When a muscle or muscle group is “too tight,” or in spasm, pain can occur in the area of the muscle or farther down, in the carpal tunnel area.
How can self-massage help carpal tunnel syndrome?
Massaging your forearm can release the tightness in your muscles. Massage warms and relaxes the muscles around the carpal tunnel and gets blood flowing through your tissues again. You might even have to massage higher up on your arm–on the back side.
When muscles are “too tight,” less blood and lymph fluid can get through the tissues. Metabolic (body) wastes cannot pass as easily through your tissues. Massage corrects this and so helps relieve carpal tunnel discomfort.
Massaging the muscles in your arm can be done in many ways.
In this article, we are going to talk about a warming technique I’ll call “press and pinch.” That gives you a good picture of the technique, doesn’t it?
You don’t need any oil for this type of massage.
1. Begin by placing the arm you will be massaging on a desk or table to support it. Spend a few minutes pressing against your forearm, from wrist to elbow. You can press with your other hand or forearm. You can even use something like a tennis ball.
Pressing helps warm and relax your muscles and soft tissues around your carpal tunnel.
While you
are pressing, do you feel any areas that are especially tender?
You will want to go back to these areas later.
2. Start to “pinch” or pick up the muscles in different areas on your forearm. Use the thumb and pads of your other fingers to pick up the tissues. If you pick up only your skin, you will not be affecting your muscles.
Try to take a big pinch so you get the muscles and soft tissues below your skin. (In medical terms, “below your skin” is called “deep to.”)
Lift up the tissues deep to your skin. Work your way around your arm, front and back.
Pay attention to what you are feeling. Is it a little tender? Very tender? A little tight? Extremely tight?
The tighter the muscle, the more tenderness.
If an area is really tender, that means it needs loosening and warming. That tight, tender area is probably at least one of the causes of your carpal tunnel pain although you might not have noticed it before.
Can you feel any more or any less discomfort in your wrist, hand or arm (aside from where you are pinching) as you do this type of massage?
If you do some of this massage technique each day, you will begin loosening the tight muscles that could be causing your carpal tunnel area pain.
And, that’s our goal. You can find more simple, natural help at Carpal Tunnel Tool Kit. I created a program to help you heal in the easiest way possible. Click the link to learn more.
“Because You Deserve To Feel Better!”