Your hand has several tendons and a nerve called the median nerve that run through a small tunnel in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel can become inflamed, and this inflammation results in pressure on the median nerve that causes severe pain, numbness, and tingling. Surgery is a common treatment for carpal-tunnel syndrome, but it's best to avoid surgery when you can. Here are some effective treatments that you can try before going under the knife.

Acupuncture

While most people are familiar with the general practice of acupuncture, getting acupuncture is not something that people commonly do. The ancient Chinese medicine is done by strategically inserting small needles into your skin. The needles are placed in pressure points throughout your body. The locations that they are placed depend on the issues you are having. Acupuncture has been found to reduce inflammation and promote healing, so it can possibly relieve the compression of the nerve.

Ice

Ice is a simple yet effective treatment for many physical ailments. Ice reduces inflammation throughout the body and relieves pain. New injuries should always be iced throughout the day. If you have been diagnosed with carpal-tunnel syndrome, you should put ice on your wrist for about at least 5 minutes and no longer than 30 minutes. Leaving ice on your skin for longer than 30 minutes can cause skin damage and has little benefit to your injury.

Splint

You bend your wrist all day long as you do things around your home and at work. No matter how hard you try to keep your wrist straight, it's not something you can do without a splint. When your wrist moves and bends, you aggravate the carpal tunnel and increase the inflammation and the pain. If you need to move it a little, you can wrap it in an ace bandage or pull a special wrist wrap over it. You'll be able to move it a little, but the wrap will keep the wrist more secure.

Steroid Injections

Steroid injections are often used for different types of orthopedic pain. The injection is done with a local anesthetic. It will numb the area and then wear off just in time for the steroid to kick in. The steroid will not only resolve most of the pain, but it will also promote healing. The steroid can reduce and even remove all of the inflammation in the area. Some issues are cured after only one injection. Some need a few injections, but then the condition will heal on its own. Try injections before going in for surgery.

Carpal-tunnel syndrome can be extremely painful and can make you want to go under the knife and get things over with. However, there are many different treatments that can possibly resolve the condition. Try these before going in for surgery. Talk to a healthcare provider such as Orthopaedic Associates of Muskegon for more information. 

Share