Healing for Hands

One or both hands feel tired and tender. Sometimes, they ache, throb or feel cold. And more than once at night, they’ve tingled or felt numb, to the point that the sensation has awakened you. What’s going on?

These problems may be early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Left untreated, the pain and tingling often increase, and you may find it difficult to grasp and hold onto objects. More important, lasting nerve damage can occur.

If you notice any symptoms of this syndrome, don’t wait to get help. It may have taken many months for problems to develop, and it may take as long or longer for your body to heal itself.

So what is the carpal tunnel anyway? It’s a narrow space inside the wrist that allows the flexor tendons and the median nerve to run from the wrist into the hand. Repetitive hand and wrist movements--the type of tasks done by clerks at a cash register, masseuses and people who spend lots of time at a computer keyboard--may cause the sheaths of the flexor tendons to swell. This swelling takes up more space in the carpal tunnel. Because the tunnel is surrounded by bone and ligament, there is no space for the swollen sheaths to expand. Instead, they press against the median nerve and symptoms develop. Be advised, however, that swelling because of bone fracture, arthritis, diabetes or pregnancy can also cause symptoms.

Here are some basics on how to prevent or lessen the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. None of these steps is a substitute for seeking the advice of your doctor when symptoms show up.

* Use a wrist support when typing.

* Take frequent breaks; even ones as short as 30 seconds can bring relief.

* Use cushioned grippers on your pencils and pens; they reduce tension in your hand when you write.

* When sitting at a computer, practice safe posture. That is, keep your wrists in a neutral (straight) position; your forearms should be parallel to the floor. When sitting, measure the distance from the floor to your elbow. Then adjust your work surface to match this height. If you can’t adjust your work surface, raise your body by standing on something, or raise the chair height and support your feet.

Other ways to help yourself include exercising (which strengthens muscles and improves blood flow), ice and heat treatment, massage and medications.

Source: StayWell Co.