The effects of carpal tunnel syndrome plague thousands of Americans and results in a rise in lost work and disability claims. Additionally, the condition can lead to depression and mental anguish. However, CTS is curable, treatable, and preventable through carpal tunnel massage methods and easy, targeted exercises that are done each day.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a medical condition that is caused by the compression of the median nerve which runs the length of the forearm. CTS gets is name from the eight bones that are located in the wrist and known as carpals. The carpals form a tunnel that is filled with tendons which are responsible for finger motion and control. The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel along with blood vessels. The nerve can become compressed as a result of a variety of conditions such as injury, fluid retention, illness, obesity, arthritis, and repetitive movements of the hand and wrist. Any swelling in the area can result in intense pressure on the median nerve and will likely result in intense pain.

As jobs persist that require the use of computer keyboards, cash registers and other activities, which prompt repetitive strains and often result in injuries, it is expected that carpal tunnel syndrome cases will continue to rise and the cost to the labor force will continue to expand. Knowing the symptoms of CTS, seeking to avoid them and knowing how to self-treat CTS can save millions in lost wages, disability payments and increasing insurance costs.

A few common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome follow:

Numbness of the hands, fingers, and wrist Burning sensations or tingling in the fingers, hands, and wrists Weakness in the wrist Loss of grip in the hands Hand and wrist pain Atrophy of the hand and finger muscles Feeling of swelling in the hands or fingers, even if no swelling is apparent

The symptoms of carpal tunnel symptom often become ore intense at night but can also be felt frequently throughout the day.

Utilizing ergonomically designed furnishings and tools in the workplace can prevent CTS. Also, by incorporating regular rest intervals when performing tasks requiring repetitive movements of the hands, arms or wrists, the risk of acquiring carpal tunnel syndrome can be significantly reduced.

However, if carpal tunnel syndrome is acquired, it is critical for people to begin treatment as early as possible. By engaging in consistent, daily massages that concentrate short, pressurized strokes on the muscles and tendons of the forearm as well as the wrist and palms, the pain from carpal tunnel can be relieved as the median nerve is encouraged to decompress.

Routine carpal tunnel exercise that engage muscles and nerves in resistance activities and that incorporate range of motion exercises centered around the wrist and fingers, can significantly improve circulation to the median nerve and surrounding tendons as well. Simple exercises like these can go a long way in reducing swelling and restoring strength to the wrist and hands.

While many believe that either a life of pain or surgery are the only options available to them once a carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis is received, learning how to reverse this agonizing condition with a daily carpal tunnel massage and carpal tunnel exercises empowers people to take control of their own health and begin recovery in as little as a few weeks.

If you have ever felt a burning sensation in your forearm, or your fingers and palms have pain in them after typing emails, or doing reports for work, Carpal tunnel syndrome could be affecting you. Repetitive things done with your hands can cause ligaments and nerves to tighten up and cause CTS.

Everyday people take care of their body in different ways, whether it’s a foot doctor, eye doctor or something else. However the hands are often taken for granted and overlooked. Not many people go to a hand doctor on a regular basis; to make sure that there hands are functioning correctly. Try going through the day without using your hands. Can’t do it? Well this is something that CTS will do to you if you don’t take care of your hands.

Carpal tunnel syndrome will have a few different symptoms that we will cover here. It starts out with tingling, numbness, a burning sensation, or a cold feeling in the hands. When people start having these types of symptoms most will change their posture at which they sit or stand to relieve some of the pain in their wrists. Problem with doing that is by changing your posture that leads to other pain with in your body, such as neck, back, and shoulder pain.

Spotting the symptoms is one thing, knowing what it is, is something else. Carpal tunnel syndrome starts when the median nerve, which is the nerve that runs down your arm and through your wrists, becomes compressed. The compression starts when the transverse carpal ligament is strained and becomes tightened. This ligament is vital to your everyday routine because it allows the hand to maneuver and function, as well as give you strength. If you are not keeping loose, you are inviting pain everyday, and you need to do some preventative maintenance.

It has been known that there are various ways to treat CTS. The most popular way is surgery, because it relieves the pain almost immediately. However some doctors and patients both say that surgery isn’t always the best method to treat CTS because of what is involved in doing it. If you opt for surgery, the surgeon will completely sever the transverse carpal ligament to relieve the pressure from the median nerve. This has been known to be a very effective way to treat CTS, however could have some unknown long term effects that vary from person to person.

The best way to defeat carpal tunnel symptom is to take a natural approach. Try proper diet and eating habits, because the more nutrients your body has available, the better it can fight the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome. Also, take more regular breaks at work so that you can give your hands time to recuperate. Try to keep the wrists loose and mobile, and do some different activities throughout the day. It even helps to “shake out” your hands every once in a while to get the circulation flowing. Try to follow good posture techniques so that you don’t run into the problems again.