How can I get relief from carpal tunnel without surgey.?

Answer 1

This is going to be hard to explain, but it can be done! I've suffered with it off and on for years; however, i had a physician tell me to never get surgery for it ~ it just comes back.

A physical therapist helped me when i mentioned my hands were 'dead' while i was having physical therapy for a shoulder and back injury. So, try to do this as you read it:

First part of the exercise: Extend one arm straight out in front of you, palm out as though you were telling someone to stop. Use your other hand to pull your upright palm toward you. Hold for a slow count of 10. It will be distinctly uncomfortable.

Second part of the exercise. Using the same arm you had extended, make a fist and bend your elbow so that your fist is pointed toward you. Using the other hand, gently push down on your fist as though you are trying to make it touch the underside of your wrist. This will be uncomfortable, too!

Do 8 sets (part 1 and 2 is *one* set); then do the other arm. Try to do these a *minimum* of 4 times a day. It will be really sore and moderately painful the first few days, but after about a week you'll begin to notice a definite difference.

Stick with it even though it hurts! =) You'll be glad you did.

Answer 2

Oh - I'm chomping at the bit on this one! There is hope for you...

If your carpal tunnel syndrome is too far gone, I mean really bad, you have severely limited use of your hands, then surgery may actually be your best bet.

On the other hand, I highly recommend you see someone who does Structural Integration (Hellerwork, Rolfing, KMI) a form of bodywork designed to relalign your body. Realignment of the shoulders, neck and hips can get to the root cause of CTS and prevent future issues. I have helped numerous people in the early to mid stages of CTS and other strain injuries. Some massage therapists who are competent in treating CTS might also be good. Acupuncture is also useful for CTS.

Secondly, start stretching...I cannot highly recommend enough Sharon Butler's work, see her site below.

Finally - what is causing your CTS? If it's from computer use, a good SI practitioner will help you learn new ways to use the computer that will bring much needed relief to your hands, wrists, elbows, neck and shoulders.

Answer 3

I have some wrist braces which provide relief. When I have a lot of pain, I sleep with them on at night. There are also some exercises and stretches that you can do to help relieve some pain. Regular breaks from typing/computer is helpful. I didn't want to get cut, either, so I just learned to deal with it. I hope you're able to get by without surgery, too.

Answer 4

You can go to any drug store and get a wrist brace that keeps your wrist in a straight position...especially during sleep (that is when most people have problems). The bending of the wrist is what puts pressure on the nerve that causes carpal tunnel syndrome.

Answer 5

sorry sezzile, there will be no relief without the surgery....and then there are no guarantees.
i had the surgery about 5 years ago and it seemed to have worked until about 2 years ago=== i ended up having to medically retire because my hands were in such pain.
but that doesn't mean it will happen to you like that.
i wish you the best of luck and may God bless and keep you safe and pain free.

Answer 6

Good luck with that one.
Elastic braces that you get from the Dr. help a bit.
I found that lots of glucosamine & chondroitan help more.

But the only thing that truly relieves the pain is liquor. Seriously!
Now if I can just find a job that allows me to drink all day!

Answer 7

You can get good temporary relief with a steroid injection along the median nerve.

Answer 8

1.Aspartame (Nutrasweet) Avoidance - Aspartame use has been reported to trigger Carpal Tunnel syndrome.

2. MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) supplement

3.Fish oil, is an important component of any supplement regimen to heal CTS. Look for a brand that is certified to be heavy metal free. Your daily dosage should contain at least 2500 mg total of EPA/ DHA.

4.Research has shown that people who don't have enough vitamin B6 in their diet are more likely to feel the pain and numbness of carpal tunnel syndrome. B6 should be taken with other
B vitamins, especially B12 and folate. Since one of the symptoms of B6 ovedose is numbness, doses of over 100 mg areonly to be used while under the direct care of your physician.

5.Vitamin B6 is much more effective when taken with botanical anti-inflammatory nutrients like bromelain, ginger and turmeric. Bromelian, a natural anti-inflammatory enzyme found in pineapple stems, is often combined with other botanical or nutritional supplements.

To enhance the benefits of bromelain, take the herb turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family. Its anti-inflammatory effects are due to its active ingredient, a substance called curcumin. Although it's safe to take over the long term, turmeric can be expensive, so you may want to cut the dosage in half once your symptoms subside. One efficient way of getting the pain relieving effects of turmeric, is to add it too your food. Cook with it at least five times a week. If you prefer capsules or tincture, then look for a form that has been standardized to 90 - 95% curcumin. Try 500 - 1000 mg a day in capsule form, or .5 - 1.5 ml tinture three times a day.

6.Ginger, a relative of turmeric, also works as an anti-inflammatory, either in capsules, as a spice or as a tea.

During flare-ups, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can help reduce pain and swelling.

When lying down, elevate your affected arm with pillows.

To reduce pain and inflammation, apply a flexible ice pack (or even a bag of frozen peas) to your wrist for 10 minutes every hour.

When working with your hands, try to keep your wrists straight. Flexing or twisting them stresses the carpal tunnel.

Try to vary activities and rotate tasks so that your wrists are not constantly bent.

Take frequent rest and stretching breaks during any activity that requires repetitive hand motions. At least once an hour, extend your wrist and fingers and shake your hands.

When working at a computer keyboard, make sure your fingers are lower than your wrists. Don't rest the heels of your hands on the keyboard or mouse pad.

While driving, avoid gripping the steering wheel too tightly.

To reduce stress on the wrist, lift objects with the entire hand, or better yet, with both hands.

Listen to your body. If your hands hurt during an activity, it's time to stop.

Reduce the amount of salt in your diet. Salt promotes water retention, which can contribute to swelling.

Quit smoking. Smoking aggravates the condition by constricting the small blood vessels of the hand.

Fingerless gloves, may help symptoms by keeping the wrist warm, or they may worsen symptoms by putting more pressure on the carpal tunnel. Ask your doctor if these implements are recommended for your particular condition.

If symptoms persist, your doctor may prescribe a wrist splint, diuretics to reduce water retention or injections of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.

In cases of advanced nerve injury or muscle damage, surgery may be suggested.

Alternative Therapies - Yoga practice may be specifically very helpful for carpal tunnel, since yoga postures are designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance upper body joints.