Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder that can be worse on some days than others. At the height of your injury, inflammation and swelling can cause pain or numbness in your hands, wrist or fingers, the pain associated with carpal tunnel can be slight or unbearable. When symptoms first start, they may be a simple as a slight tingling sensation but as it progresses, the pain can radiate from your wrist all the way up your arm. This can lead to lost time at work and problems doing everyday tasks, not to mention sleep. When carpal tunnel syndrome begins to affect your job or daily life it is time to seek medical attention. However, symptoms may be slight at first they can rapidly progress to major issues.

Many medical practitioners will prescribe different methods of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. These can include anti-inflammatory medication, corticosteroid injections, regular stretching or muscular exercises for the affected area, using wrist braces either during the day, evening or all day and for some extreme cases surgery may be the only viable solution. Carpal tunnel syndrome is best treated when symptoms start to show rather than waiting until the pain is intolerable and can keep you from performing job duties or other daily activities as required. Just like any other medical condition, carpal tunnel syndrome is better treated early in hopes to keep it from becoming a crippling condition that could require extreme treatment methods such as surgery.

There are many tendons called flexors included in your wrist that are part of the muscle that helps regulate the movements of your hands and fingers. The carpal tunnel is the actual canal itself where the nerves and muscles are located and pass through from your arm to your hands.

In your wrist are tendons called flexors that along with the muscle regulate the way your hands, wrist and fingers work. The point where the nerves and muscles pass from your arm to your wrist is a canal called the carpal tunnel. In addition to these tendons and muscles is a nerve called the Median Nerve, it is surrounded by the flexors and when they become inflamed through overuse they exert pressure on the nerve causing pain. This pressure can also cause tingling or numbing sensation when you use your hands or wrists often. Many people such as musicians, tailors, construction workers, and laborers are prone to this type of problem. One good prevention technique is the use of stretching and exercises. These may help prevent carpal tunnel if you have not had any symptoms yet.

Wrist braces and stretching exercises can help alleviate any painful symptoms of carpal tunnel and keep you from experiencing any further problems. Many people who begin to experience problems associated with carpal tunnel begin to wear a wrist brace during the night to avoid overextension of the wrist while sleeping and to stabilize the muscles during rest. Using hot or cold compresses or anti-inflammatory medication can help with any inflammation that you may be experiencing during this time of treatment.

The one thing anyone who has carpal tunnel syndrome wants is relief from pain, wrist braces and stretching exercises are a great method for this. A wrist brace can be used of an evening or overnight to prevent overextension and stabilize the muscles and tendons. It can also be very therapeutic to use hot or cold compresses when your carpal tunnel becomes inflamed or swollen, adding anti-inflammatory medications will further your relief from symptoms. If your symptoms have progressed to intense pain or loss of strength you can increase your wrist brace use to cover times when you are working or doing normal daily activities. The most important information you need about carpal tunnel syndrome is that it will not get better on its own, at some point you are going to need treatment of some kind to prevent it from getting worse.

Beginning treatment of CTS usually involves resting the affected hand and wrist for at least 2 weeks, avoiding activities that may worsen symptoms, and immobilizing the wrist to avoid continued irritation. Anti-infalamatory drugs (such as ibuprofin) or diuretics can also be used for this purpose. When the basic habits that caused the CTS in the first place have been reduced, basic carpal tunnel exercises can help keep the CTS from progressing.