According to a report published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a simple warm-up routine may greatly reduce the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. This routine, combined with medication and rest, may prove to be better at treating carpal tunnel symptoms than simple rest and medication.
The warm-up routine is as follows:
Resting is so important for our physical bodies and our minds as well. In our over-worked and stressful society, we do not find the time to rest. When the pain from carpal tunnel syndrome becomes unbearable, you'll need to rest your wrists from doing too much work. Hopefully, you'll notice the symptoms long before they become unbearable and can integrate resting and stretching into your daily life (along with modifying the activity that is causing you pain the first place.
Along with any other carpal tunnel syndrome treatments you try, you’ll need to rest your hands and wrists for a short time.
Also, ice and elevation can provide temporary relief from carpal tunnel syndrome while you are modifying your lifestyle to prevent recurrence.
To assure that your wrist is rested, your doctor may choose to put your wrist in a splint. The splint holds the wrist in a cocked-up position. It may be worn only at night, when symptoms are usually at their worst, or throughout the day and night. Since any motion raises the pressure in the carpal tunnel and counteracts the effects of the splint, many doctor recommend the splint be worn continuously for the first week to ten days.
In a study conducted in Florida, massage therapy involving strokes of moderate pressure from the fingertips to the elbow was performed on the massage group versus a control group that did not receive massage therapy.3 Those in the massage group received one massage per week on the affected arm for four weeks. They were also instructed in self-massage, which they were to perform each night before bed.
Several diagnostics tests were performed at the beginning and end of the study such as the Tinel sign, Phalen Test and Nerve conduction test which tests for peak sensory latency at the carpal tunnel.
Assessments were also made before and after the massage sessions on the first and last days of the study, including the Perceived Grip Strength Scale; VITAS, a pain assessment using a visual analogue scale; the state anxiety inventory; and the Profile of Mood States.
Results of the study showed that the subjects in the massage group had significantly less pain and reduced carpal tunnel symptoms, as well as shorter median peak latencies and increased grip strength.
“Functional activity also improved as noted in reduced pain and increased grip strength in the massage therapy group, both immediately after the first and last massage therapy sessions and by the end of the study,” state the study’s authors. “Finally, the massage therapy group reported lower anxiety and depressed mood levels both immediately after the first and last sessions and by the end of the study.”
In a study conducted in Florida, massage therapy involv [3]: carpal-tunnel-syndrome/symptomsed stroking involving strokes of moderate pressure from the fingertips to the elbow in was performed on the massage group versus a control group that did not receive massage therapy.superscript text 3 Those in the massage group received one massage per week on the affected arm for four weeks. They were also instructed in self-massage, which they were to perform each night before bed.
Several diagnostics tests were performed at the beginning and end of the study such as the Tinel sign, Phalen Test and Nerve conduction test which tests for peak sensory latency at the carpal tunnel.
Assessments were also made before and after the massage sessions on the first and last days of the study, including the Perceived Grip Strength Scale; VITAS, a pain assessment using a visual analogue scale; the state anxiety inventory; and the Profile of Mood States.
Results of the study showed that the subjects in the massage group had significantly less pain and reduced carpal tunnel symptoms, as well as shorter median peak latencies and increased grip strength.
“Functional activity also improved as noted in reduced pain and increased grip strength in the massage therapy group, both immediately after the first and last massage therapy sessions and by the end of the study,” state the study’s authors. “Finally, the massage therapy group reported lower anxiety and depressed mood levels both immediately after the first and last sessions and by the end of the study.”
In a study conducted in Florida, massage therapy involving strokes of moderate pressure from the fingertips to the elbow was performed on the massage group versus a control group that did not receive massage therapy.3 Those in the massage group received one massage per week on the affected arm for four weeks. They were also instructed in self-massage, which they were to perform each night before bed.
Several diagnostics tests were performed at the beginning and end of the study such as the Tinel sign, Phalen Test and Nerve conduction test which tests for peak sensory latency at the carpal tunnel.
Assessments were also made before and after the massage sessions on the first and last days of the study, including the Perceived Grip Strength Scale; VITAS, a pain assessment using a visual analogue scale; the state anxiety inventory; and the Profile of Mood States.
Results of the study showed that the subjects in the massage group had significantly less pain and reduced carpal tunnel symptoms, as well as shorter median peak latencies and increased grip strength.
“Functional activity also improved as noted in reduced pain and increased grip strength in the massage therapy group, both immediately after the first and last massage therapy sessions and by the end of the study,” state the study’s authors. “Finally, the massage therapy group reported lower anxiety and depressed mood levels both immediately after the first and last sessions and by the end of the study.”
Massage therapy has shown to have positive effects on the symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome such as pain and tingling.
In the one reported double, placebo-controlled study of magnet therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome, 30 people with the health challenge received treatment with either a real or a fake static magnet.7 Dramatic, long-lasting benefits were seen with the magnet treatment. However, identical, dramatic long-lasting benefits were seen with placebo treatment as well! In two more small randomized trials, researchers again found that there were no differences between the treatment and the placebo groups. Both groups experienced an improvement in carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.13-14
Interestingly, the fact that the placebo group was found to have equally effective results does not undermine the efficacy of the treatment - in fact, it raises the question whether simply having a practitioner take the time to administer a particular treatment makes the treatment effective. Perhaps it is less about the modality/treatment chosen, and more about the care brought to the therapy by the practitioner. Traditional scientific study does not, by-and-large, support the idea that the patient/practitioner connection or relationship might in fact be a major part of the healing/treatment that occurs; but in fact, this connection might be just as, if not more, important than the actual treatment in some cases.
In the one reported double, placebo-controlled study of magnet therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome, 30 people with the health challenge received treatment with either a real or a fake static magnet.7 Dramatic, long-lasting benefits were seen with the magnet treatment. However, identical, dramatic long-lasting benefits were seen with placebo treatment as well! This study underscores the need for a placebo group in studies—had. In two more small randomized trials, researchers again found that there were no differences between the treatment and the placebo groups. Both groups experienced an improvement in carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.13-14
Interestingly, the fact that the placebo group was found to have equally effective results does not undermine the efficacy of the treatment - in fact, it raises the question whether simply having a practitioner take the time to administer a particular treatment makes the treatment effective. Perhaps it is less about the modality/treatment chosen, and more about the care brought to the therapy by the practitioner. Traditional scientific study does not, by-and-large, support the idea that the patient/practitioner connection or relationship might in fact be a major part of the healing/treatment that occurs; but in fact, this connection might be just as, if not more, important than the actual treatment in some cases.
The administering of magnets on the wrists is thought to possibly help in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Though most people with carpal tunnel syndrome will need to change the behavior that is causing the condition, acupuncture can also help. Acupuncture seeks to remove the underlying blockage that is causing the pain such that the natural energies and processes of the body realign and the body comes back into balance on its own (thus removing the pain).
A few studies have investigated the effectiveness of vitamin B6 specifically for carpal tunnel syndrome. Most were poorly designed and involved few people. The two (albeit small) randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that do exist found no evidence that vitamin B 6 effectively treats carpal tunnel.
The first study, which enrolled only 15 people, found no significant difference after 10 weeks among those taking vitamin B6, placebo, or nothing at all.4
The second, involving 32 people, did find some benefits, but these were fairly minor.5 There was no improvement in nighttime pain, numbness, or tingling, nor in objective measurements of median nerve function. Some benefit, however, was seen in the relatively less important symptoms of finger swelling and discomfort after repetitive motion.
Again, the thought that vitamin B6 might be helpful to take for carpal tunnel syndrome is based on the fact that some people with with this health challenge were found to be deficient in the vitamin. However, this does not mean that supplementing the vitamin will actually help treat the condition.
More than 25 years ago, researchers noted that people with carpal tunnel syndrome seemed to be deficient in vitamin B6.2 This led to widespread use of B6 as a treatment for carpal tunnel. However, a recent study found no association between CTS and B6 -deficiency.3 In any case, even if B6 -deficiency were common in CTS, that by itself wouldn't prove that taking B6 supplements can reduce carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.
Since vitamin B6 has not been proven effective and may be harmful in high doses, it should be taken with caution for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Bromelain and other proteolytic enzymes are sometimes recommended for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, but there is no concrete evidence as yet that they are effective. It is thought that this supplement might help through its ability to reduce some inflammation.
Bromelain, or proteolytic enzymes, are enzymes produced by the body that help digest the proteins in food.
The primary use of proteolytic enzymes is as a digestive aid for people who have trouble digesting proteins. However, proteolytic enzymes may also be absorbed internally to some extent and may reduce pain and inflammation (as is characteristic of symptoms in with those with carpal tunnel syndrome.)
Arnica is an herb that has traditionally used as part of Homeopathy. It can be found in homeopathic tablets and ointments. Its main benefit centers around inflammation and pain related to trauma.
Arnica ointment and tablets have been studied in cases following carpal tunnel surgery. In the clinical study post-surgery, Arnica was found to be more effective than placebo in treating pain.
