Are you experiencing pain in your dominant wrist and hand? Does your job involve a repetitive hand-based task, such as typing or working on a manufacturing line? If so, then your pain could be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition occurs when tissue in the hand becomes swollen to the point that the tissue pinches the median nerve, which runs up the wrist and through the hand. This causes pain in the palm and fingers and may even make the fingers feel numb. Surgery is a common solution. However, if you don't want to have surgery just yet, you may want to try the three treatment options listed below:
- Rest and support. If you have carpal tunnel, nearly any doctor you meet will likely advise you of the importance of resting your hand. When you don't have to use your hand, keep it rested and elevated to reduce inflammation. You also may want to ice it regularly. If you need to use your hand at work, try using a hand splint or brace. That will keep the hand immobilized as much as possible and prevent future inflammation. Rest and support may not cure your carpal tunnel, but it could prevent further damage and make your pain manageable.
- Medicine. Your doctor may also prescribe a mixture of drugs to relieve your pain and reduce pressure on the median nerve. Anti-inflammatory drugs could be used to help relieve pressure. They're usually taken orally and often have few side effects. Your doctor could also prescribe steroid injections into your hand or wrist. The steroid injections serve to build up strength in and around the ligaments in your wrist. That will give your wrist more support against swollen tissue. Your hand and wrist may actually look more swollen after the injections, but the swelling will usually go down within a couple of days.
- Chiropractic care. If rest and medicine aren't doing the job, you may want to look for treatment outside of your doctor's available options. A chiropractor can be a good place to start. The chiropractor will put your hand and wrist through a series of range of movement exercises. They may also adjust your spine to address any nerve damage that is rooted in the spine and running down to your wrist. While chiropractic results can vary from patient to patient, they can be highly effective for some people. After a series of several treatments, you may see substantial improvement in the condition and function of your hand.
For more information, contact a chiropractor in your area at Citrus Chiropractic Group. They can examine your hand and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
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