Three signs that you need carpal tunnel syndrome treatment

Do you find it harder to grip your coffee cup all of a sudden? Has turning doorknobs become more difficult? Are you finding it harder to get through an entire day of work without pain in your wrist? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might have carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Most people have probably heard about carpal tunnel syndrome, or carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the pain that develops along the inside of your wrist. The pain is caused by pressure on the median nerves within the carpal tunnel. Sometimes, you can have pain in this area that goes away after a short time, but chronic cases of pain related to carpal tunnel syndrome require professional treatment.

It’s important to be aware of the signs of carpal tunnel syndrome so you can know when to seek professional help for your wrist pain.

Signs of carpal tunnel syndrome

If you’re experiencing any of the following signs, you should seek professional treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome:

1. Pain and discomfort in your wrist or palm
2. Tingling and numbness in the fingers — this tingling or numbness usually doesn’t affect your pinkie finger, but it’s possible. 
3. Loss of strength in your grip and your fingers

In some cases, rest and other home remedies can help reduce your carpal tunnel symptoms. If the above symptoms persist for long periods of time or don’t get better within a few days, you should seek medical attention. Ignoring carpal tunnel syndrome can result in the development of a more serious condition or a permanent disability.

Signs of carpal tunnel syndrome are often linked to common daily activities

There are cases where a blow to the wrist has led to signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, it’s more common for everyday activities to cause them. This is especially true if the activities aren’t being done with good wrist posture. 

A few of the everyday activities that can trigger carpal tunnel are:

• Typing for long hours with poor wrist posture
• Driving for many hours at a time
• Frequently using vibrating machinery or tools
• Holding a cellphone with poor wrist posture

Getting treatment for signs of carpal tunnel syndrome

Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome varies depending on the severity of the condition. It can also be affected by other factors like age, preexisting conditions, medical history and personal goals. For an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment, your physical therapist may require you to get an X-ray. They may also order an electromyogram (EMG) test to monitor your median nerve.

At Advent Physical Therapy, the main objective of our physical therapists is to strengthen and stretch muscles and tendons around the carpal tunnel to help relieve pressure on the nerve. Treatments are always personalized, but you can expect them to include some of the following:

• Stretches for your wrist
• Exercises to strengthen the area
• Manual therapy to release tension in the wrist tissue
• Ergonomics evaluation to identify work-related work posture issues
• Posture education to help you maintain better wrist position and avoid pain

Are you ready to speak with a physical therapist at Advent Physical Therapy about your treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.