The carpal tunnel is a naturally narrow region, and the median nerve is vulnerable to compression here. Nerves are sensitive and dislike being compressed. When a nerve is pinched, patients often experience numbness, tingling, pins and needles, electric shocks, and weakness in their hands. Because the pinky finger is fed by a separate nerve from the rest of the body, it is rarely numb in CTS sufferers. Symptoms are frequently more severe at night. Furthermore, the discomfort may travel up the arm, jolting the patient awake.
Here’s some background on the anatomy of the carpal tunnel, which can help you comprehend what’s going on. The median nerve is the nerve that delivers the majority of sensation to the hand. The thumb, index finger, middle finger, and a piece of the ring finger are all controlled by the median nerve.
Wear a Brace
The majority of individuals, including me, sleep with a bent wrist. The pressure within the carpal tunnel increases when the wrist is not kept straight. As a result, the nerve is compressed when the wrist is bent for an extended period of time, such as during sleeping. This can produce nighttime symptoms. The simplest treatment is to keep the wrist straight using an over-the-counter wrist brace and to train yourself not to sleep with the wrist bent. Put on copper compression gloves for carpal tunnel as well. Otherwise, your hand would be numb/tingly when you wake up, and you’ll have to reposition your arm and shake out the numbness to regain feeling.
Exercise and Physical Activity
Several studies have shown that individuals who participate in an exercise program, particularly vigorous physical activity, had fewer carpal tunnel symptoms. Physical activities such as jogging, swimming, sports, biking, and even walking around the neighborhood are all beneficial to you and your carpal tunnel! You should buy copper fit gloves for your protection.
Tobacco use should be reduced or discontinued
Tobacco products include nicotine, an addictive substance. It also narrows arteries and lowers blood flow throughout the body. Nerves can be more vulnerable to injury if blood flow in the hand is diminished. Stopping smoking may help you avoid CTS symptoms while also improving your general health. If you’re thinking about quitting, talk to your primary care provider.
It’s debatable if computer employment raises the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. While some research implies that long periods of computer use can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, others do not.