Physical Therapy Can Help!

Symptoms can include hand and thumb weakness, pain, numbness and tingling in the thumb through middle finger, hand and wrist. Over time, this cycle can make it difficult and painful to do simple things such as cooking, typing, writing, even holding onto a toothbrush to brush your teeth.

Here are some things that can help carpal tunnel syndrome. You can also do these things to help prevent symptoms if you have a job or participate in activities that require repetitive or heavy gripping or repetitive finger motion like typing or crafting.

After doing the stretches, glide the median nerve (yellow arrow), and the finger tendons (red arrow) to prevent or help with irritation, numbness, tingling, sharp zinging pain and the higher spikes of pain.

Stay on top of your symptoms with stretching and gliding and use the brace if you can’t get away from doing things that continually aggravate your pain. Wear it during all waking hours at first. Once you start to feel better, only wear it when you are going to do something that usually hurts the elbow or if you are doing anything above and beyond what you usually do.

Last and definitely not least, get evaluated by a physical therapist. Carpal tunnel symptoms are very similar to symptoms for a pinched nerve in the neck. Your physical therapist will be able to tell the difference in their exam and get you started on the most effective and efficient path to recovery.