9 Home Remedies for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief

Have you noticed tingling or numbness in your hands or arms? Or maybe you feel a dull pain in any of your wrists? Has this feeling continued for months or worsened with time? If so, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

CTS can develop when a nerve in your wrist is pinched. In many cases, this is the outcome of normal daily activities. This includes frequently using vibrating hand tools, playing a musical instrument, and performing manual labor. There is substantial dispute about whether typing or computer work can result in CTS.

This condition often begins slowly and progressively. It may affect one or both of your hands. You may experience numbness or tingling in your fingers, especially your index and thumb. You may also notice an unpleasant sensation, weakness, or pain in your wrists.

If you have mild CTS, you may be able to manage your symptoms with lifestyle modifications and medication. Here are nine homemade cures for carpal tunnel syndrome:

1. Take breaks from repetitive tasks

Set a 15-minute timer before working with the computer, playing guitar, or using a hand drill. When it sounds, pause what you're doing and twitch your fingers. Stretch your hands and wrists to increase blood flow to these areas.

2. Wear splints on your wrists

Keeping your wrists straight can assist reduce pressure on your median nerve. Symptoms are more common at night, therefore wearing a splint in the evening may help relieve them before they occur. If you have difficulty with repeated duties at work, you can wear wrist splints during the day.

3. Lighten up

If you find yourself straining or forcing things like writing, typing, or operating a cash register, try relaxing your grip or using less force. Consider using a soft-grip pen or hitting the keys more lightly.

4. Mind your flexion

Avoid activities that cause your wrists to flex excessively in either direction. Try to maintain your wrists as neutral as possible.

5. Stay warm

Keeping your hands warm helps relieve pain and stiffness. Consider wearing fingerless gloves or storing hand warmers nearby.

6. Stretch it out

To alleviate wrist pain, perform brief wrist exercises while standing in line at the grocery store or sitting at your computer at work. For example, create a fist and then slide your fingers back to a straight position. Repeat this step five to ten times. This can help ease the pressure on your wrist.

7. Elevate your hands and wrists whenever possible

This home cure is especially useful if your CTS is caused by pregnancy, fractures, or other forms of fluid retention.

8. Try over-the-counter (OTC) medications

OTC pain medications like aspirin (Bufferin) and ibuprofen (Advil) may help. Not only do they ease pain, but they also reduce inflammation around the nerve.

9. Slather on some pain relief

Using topical menthol significantly reduces wrist pain during the workday. You can try Biofreeze. Follow the package directions or consult with your doctor to determine how much to use.

If these suggestions and methods aren't helping your problems, see a physical or occupational therapist. They can show you more sophisticated routines for relaxing your hands and healing your issues.

Traditional treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome

More severe forms of carpal tunnel syndrome may necessitate medical attention.

To relieve pain and inflammation, your doctor may recommend corticosteroids. These medications minimize swelling and pressure on the median nerve. Injections are more potent than oral steroids. This treatment may be especially useful if your CTS is caused by an inflammatory condition, like rheumatoid arthritis.

Your healthcare provider may also suggest surgery to remove strain on the nerve. Typically, one or two incisions are made in the afflicted location, followed by the severing of the ligament. This will free the nerve and expand the space around it.

The ligament will gradually grow again, creating more space for your nerves than before. If you have severe CTS, surgery may not relieve all your symptoms, but it should help you feel better and prevent further nerve damage.