If your wrist is constantly hurting, and your hand feels numb and tingly, you may be developing carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition is often due to repetitive wrist motions, such as from typing all day. What is happening is that the median nerve, which travels from your arm through the wrist to your hand, becomes compressed and inflamed due to the constant pressure on the nerve.
Fortunately, early treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome will give you back your ability to use your wrist normally without experiencing nerve-related problems – which can otherwise lead to a permanent disability of the hand if left untreated. Let’s talk about some everyday preventive measures you can take now to avoid developing carpal tunnel syndrome, and where you can go for an evaluation and treatment of your hand pain.
How Can I Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
You may take the following steps to help reduce your hand pain and to prevent the condition from worsening:
Take Breaks Throughout the Day
If you perform repetitive motions with your wrist and fingers during the day, be sure to take a break at least once every hour. If you cannot take the time to stand up, then reach your arms all the way upward and rotate your hands and wrists loosely. This will help to facilitate proper circulation while giving your wrists a much-needed break.
Watch the Position of Your Wrists
If you’re holding your wrist too far up or too far down while you work, your body will tell you because it will feel uncomfortable and possibly painful. You may also feel some numbness in your hand, usually in your dominant hand, due to compression on the median nerve in your wrist.
Try raising or lowering your chair so you’re sitting with your arms at a level position with your keyboard or with what you’re working on. It is a good idea to seek the advice of an orthopedist who can evaluate your hand condition and give you recommendations about how to create a more ergonomic workspace.
Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you do begin to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, your orthopedic doctor will likely first recommend that you wear a brace on your hand to keep your wrist in position and to prevent the nerve from being compressed anymore. If this isn’t sufficient, and you continue to feel hand pain and numbness, the physician may recommend the following treatments depending on the severity of your condition:
Corticosteroid Injections
Your orthopedic doctor may recommend corticosteroid shots directly into the painful area in order to ease the pain and swelling. The physician will inject the solution into your hand, and you’ll then feel much less pressure on your wrist. You should instantly have greater flexibility in your hand and fingers.
Surgery
When less-invasive approaches aren’t enough to address your carpal tunnel syndrome, your orthopedic physician may recommend surgery. This will help to relieve the pressure and open the tunnel in your wrist that houses the median nerve. This is usually an outpatient procedure that has very beneficial results.
Experienced Orthopedic Surgeons in Bismarck, ND
When you choose The Bone & Joint Center to finally find relief from your hand pain, you can trust our skilled orthopedic surgeons to recommend and provide the least invasive measures possible. Whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome or another type of orthopedic issue, we are here to give you the medical solutions you need to get back to living the life you enjoy.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with one of our outstanding orthopedists, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (800) 424-2663 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you stay healthy, active, and pain-free!
