Carpal tunnel can cause symptoms like pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in the wrists, hands, and arms. Individuals who have this condition may struggle with daily tasks such as typing or writing, or experience mild issues on occasion. Here are three treatments that have been found to relieve carpal tunnel symptoms to improve mobility and comfort during flare-ups.

Address Carpal Tunnel Symptoms with This Advice

1. Try Temperature Therapy

The Cleveland Clinic notes that temperature therapy can reduce numbness and pain in individuals who have carpal tunnel. They recommend icing or soaking your hands, wrists or arms for 10 to 15 minutes once or twice an hour to limit swelling. You may also try placing the painful area in warm water and carefully flexing several times a day to take advantage of the muscle-loosening powers of heat. 

2. Consider Short-Term Pain Reliever Use

People who have carpal tunnel often exhibit swelling in the affected areas. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can limit and mitigate swelling to lower pain and discomfort. Talk with a doctor before trying NSAIDs for carpal tunnel to see which options are best for your heart and digestive system. They’ll also discuss safe dosing suggestions if you plan on using the drugs repeatedly over a short period of time.

3. Physical Therapy

Learning how to move your wrists, arms, and hands in ways that won’t worsen carpal tunnel symptoms can be helpful in improving daily life. Physical therapists can assess your carpal tunnel and then create exercise plans to teach you proper stretching and strength-building techniques that may limit the effects of carpal tunnel and better your feelings of weakness, numbness and tingling.

Individuals interested in seeking physical therapy for carpal tunnel should contact StayFIT Physical Therapy in Aiea and Kapolei, HI. Their dedicated team of professional therapists provides one-on-one rehabilitation appointments and personalized home exercise programs to help people who are recovering from injuries, trauma, surgeries, and medical conditions. Call (808) 487-0487 or visit the website for information on their services like massage therapy, functional capacity evaluations, Graston technique, and Kinesio tape wrapping to get you on the road to better movement, strength, and flexibility.