If you have been suffering from excruciating pain, numbness, or tingling in your hand, there is a good chance you may have carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel is a common syndrome that results from pressure on a major nerve found in your wrist. This can be caused by certain illnesses or repeated use of the hands and wrist over an extended period of time. There are surgical ways to treat this condition, but your doctor might recommend trying several different non-surgical treatment options first. Here are some of the common ways doctors treat carpal tunnel when it is first diagnosed.
Wear A Splint
Wearing a wrist splint is one of the first treatment options suggested by many doctors, and current studies show that wearing a splint can relieve a lot of the symptoms of carpal tunnel. If you choose this method, make sure you choose the right type of splint for your needs, and make sure you wear it properly. These are things your doctor can help you with.
The way a splint works is by holding the hand and wrist in a certain position. By doing this, it takes the stress off the nerve that causes the pain, which often leads to relief of pain and other symptoms. You can wear a splint all the time, or you can wear one only when you sleep. You may get the best results if you wear it as often as possible.
Use Corticosteroids
A second treatment option often used for symptoms of carpal tunnel is corticosteroid shots. While you might not be keen on getting injections, these can make a huge difference in the pain you experience from your condition. Corticosteroids have the ability to decrease any inflammation in the body, and they are most effective when given in the form of injections in the area where you are experiencing the pain.
Try Natural Treatment Options
A lot of people also turn to natural treatment options for treating carpal tunnel. The benefit of these options is that they do not have side-effects. Here are some of the different forms of natural treatment you could consider using for treatment:
- Acupuncture – This is a method that involves placing needles in meridians in the body to stimulate the right energies. A lot of people have found relief for carpal tunnel with this method.
- Ice – Applying ice to the sore area is also a natural way to treat the problem, and this method is completely free. Giving this is shot is worthwhile because you have nothing to lose.
- Physical therapy – Performing the right types of exercises with your hand and wrist may also help relieve the pressure on this nerve and may help you strengthen the muscles surrounding it. A few visits to a physical therapist can be helpful to learn the best types of exercises to use for this purpose.
While trying these non-surgical methods is a great place to start if you want to get rid of the pain and tingling you are experiencing, there is always a chance that they will not work well enough for you. If you try these and are still really bothered by the symptoms of carpal tunnel, you may want to visit a hand surgery specialist. This is a type of doctor that specializes in fixing problems related to the hands, and there are several different surgical approaches that are used to treat carpal tunnel.
If you believe you may suffer from carpal tunnel and would like expert advice about your condition, visit a doctor today. Your doctor is likely to refer you to a hand specialist, and this is the best way for you to find the right treatment option for your carpal tunnel.
