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Manual treatment that includes deep friction massage
can help manage the swelling that is a factor in nerve compression. This
is combined with manual stretches to the tendons to the fingers and
wrist. Another modality of treatment is ultrasonic therapy, which in
some cases may work as a carpal tunnel therapy by itself.
Here
are four stemming branches of carpal tunnel therapy:
Localized
steroid injections
Steroid injections can be
quite effective for temporary relief from symptoms of carpal tunnel
syndrome for a short time frame while a patient develops a long term
strategy that fits with his or her lifestyle. In certain patients, an
injection may also be of diagnostic value. However, this carnal
tunnel
therapy is not appropriate for extended periods. In general, medical
professionals only prescribe to localized steroid injections until other
treatment options can be identified. For most patients, permanent relief
requires surgery.
Prioritizing hand activities and ergonomics
Any
forceful and repetitive use of the hands and wrists can cause upper
extremity pain. While avoiding activities that cause repetitive stress
is an option that can help avoid the pain, it causes people to curtail
their careers, forfeit earnings and give up whole segments of their
lives.
More frequent rest can be useful if it can be orchestrated
into one's schedule, but rest is not very practical in today's active
work and play environments. It has been shown that taking multiple mini
breaks during the stressful activity is more effective than taking
occasional long breaks. Exercises that relax and strengthen the muscles
of the upper back can reduce the risk of a double crush of the median
nerve. Spinal manipulations performed by an osteopath or chiropractor
may be appropriate to relieve compression of the nerve. It goes to show
that this kind of carpal tunnel therapy will not just be beneficial to
the CTS but also in a holistic manner.
Dietary changes and
medication
Dietary changes can provide the body with the
necessary nutrients needed to repair nerves and help reduce
inflammation. With this, pressure on the nerve can be reduced, thus
allowing it to heal. Certain vitamins and nutrients can also be taken to
repair nerve damage, such as amino acids, vitamin B complex and
hypercium. No specific vitamin or nutrient has been shown to have a
noticeable anti-inflammatory effect, but taking a diverse multivitamin
may have a noticeable effect on reducing inflammation in the body. One
could argue that this carpal tunnel therapy have a small effect on
carpal tunnel syndrome, similar to placebo. Their effect would certainly
be negligible in anything but the most mild of cases.
Carpal
tunnel release surgery
When visiting a hand surgeon, the first
step would be examination of the hands and a review of the symptoms. If
a condition other than carpal tunnel syndrome is present, the doctor
will suggest the appropriate treatment. If CTS is suspected, depending
on the severity and the situation, the doctor will first prescribe
non-operative treatment with splinting and anti-inflammatory drugs. A
test conducted on the nerve will positively determine whether or not it
is compressed and if carpal tunnel syndrome is indeed the diagnosis.
If
all the symptoms go away with splinting and medication, then this kind
of carpal tunnel therapy will not be necessary. If not, then carpal
tunnel release surgery is recommended. In general, milder cases can be
controlled for months to years, but severe cases are unrelenting
symptomatically and likely will come to surgical treatment.
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