If your routine activities strain your hands, fingers, and wrists, with time, you will experience symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness. Often, that may indicate East Brunswick carpal tunnel. As one of the most common hand conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome originates from continuous exertion of pressure on your median nerve. The carpal tunnel is a narrow opening or passageway located on the anterior position of your wrist. On the other hand, the median nerve is vital for providing movement functions to your forearm and sending sensations (temperature, pain, and touch) from your hand and lower arm to your brain.
If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, your hand can be permanently dysfunctional, making it impossible to feel sensations in your fingers and grasp and hold items. Therefore your focus should be on preventing the condition. Below are ways of safeguarding yourself against carpal tunnel syndrome.
Often try a gentler touch
You may get so used to performing your daily activities in a particular manner that you do not stop to think about the implications. You may frequently apply a lot of force on your hands and wrists to complete a task when there is no need. For instance, if you are operating a computer, there is no need to punch the keyboard when you can still gently type.
Also, avoid a firm grip that can compress your median nerve when holding a tool. Always ensure the grip is relaxed.
Go for frequent short breaks
That gives you the time to frequently perform gentle stretching and bending of your hands and wrists. You should do that if you use vibrating equipment or a tool requiring you to grip it firmly.
Another solution is to switch between tasks.
Maintain good posture
A good posture ensures that when you are sitting, lying down, or standing, your musculoskeletal alignment gets the proper support by the correct muscle tension against the force of gravity.
If you have a bad posture, your shoulder may roll forward, causing the shortening of the muscles in your shoulder and neck. As a result, the straining or crunching of nerves in your neck can affect other body parts, including your hands, wrists, and fingers.
Ensure you avoid bending the wrist completely down or up. Maintain a relaxed neutral or middle position, which is vital for not straining the median nerve.
Keep warm hands
When the temperature is always cold in your work environment, you risk hand stiffness and discomfort. Therefore, try to stay warm by using hand warmers and fingerless gloves. Alternatively, adjust the room temperature of your workplace using an air conditioner.
You must seek early treatment if you have tried prevention and still get carpal tunnel syndrome. An early-stage condition enables conservative care, including wearing splints on wrists, changing how you perform your activities, using medications and injections, and physical therapy.
However, conservative care may not be enough if you have late-stage carpal tunnel syndrome. In such a situation, your carpal tunnel specialist will recommend surgery involving widening your carpal tunnel to allow pressure release.
Contact Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLP today to book an appointment for conservative or surgical specialist treatment of your carpal tunnel syndrome.
