Did you know that wearing the wrong carpal tunnel syndrome splint can make your condition worse? It's because most splints sold in pharmacies are actually not designed for carpal tunnel syndrome at all.

Here's how you can tell if you're wearing the wrong splint for carpal tunnel:

1) You wake up in the morning and your carpal tunnel symptoms (e.g., finger or hand pain, numbness, tingling) are worse than when you went to bed, or

2) You've been splinting for weeks (or more) and symptoms have not resolved.

Before you buy a carpal tunnel syndrome splint, be sure you have this disorder to begin with. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome concentrate in the fingers (except the pinky finger) and palm. They are:

• Pain (usually in the palm, thumb or first fingers)
• Numbness (usually in the first 3 fingers)
• Tingling
• Burning
• Shooting electric shocks
• Weakness
• Clumsiness
  

When the disorder begins, symptoms typically show up while resting or trying to sleep. Actually, if symptoms are worse while using your hands, it's usually due to tendonitis and NOT carpal tunnel syndrome.

Do the above symptoms match what you're feeling? You can double check by taking this FREE self-test to see if you have carpal tunnel syndrome or another disorder (like tendonitis).

If you do indeed have carpal tunnel, then wearing a certified carpal tunnel syndrome splint is a good first step toward eliminating the problem.

Carpal tunnel syndrome isn't a disorder like arthritis or a fractured wrist. It's a specific condition with specific splinting requirements. Here are the 2 things to know.

Nocturnal splinting is great for mild or early moderate stage carpal tunnel syndrome. But you must not wear a wrist splint when your hand is working during the day.

That's because carpal tunnel syndrome has already begun. It means the flexor tendons in your forearm are stressed and swollen. This swelling is what causes pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. That pressure is what causes all of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

So why add more stress to your wrist tendons? A splint will cause your hand to fight the restriction while you perform your daily manual duties. This adds additional strain to your already stressed tissues, making carpal tunnel symptoms much worse.

So don't wear a splint during the daytime if you have carpal tunnel!

These are the most popular splints sold today. Not a single one is a certified carpal tunnel syndrome splint. So avoid them at all costs!

• Ace Wrist Support
• Ace Deluxe Wrist Stabilizer
• AirCast A2 Wrist Stabilizing Brace
• Bauerfeind ManuTrain Wrist Brace
• Bauerfeind ManuLoc Wrist Brace
• Bio Skin DP2 Cock-up Wrist Brace
• Bio Skin DP3 Cock-up Wrist Brace
• Bledsoe Wrist Lacer Wrist Brace
• Bledsoe Universal Wrist Lacer
• DonJoy CXT & SXT Functional Wrist Braces
• DonJoy Neoprene Wrist Wrap
• DonJoy Contoured Wrist/Forearm Splint
• DonJoy Universal Wrist/Forearm Splint
• FLA ProLite Wrist Splint with Abducted Thumb
• FLA Uni-Fit Wrist Splint
• Futuro Comfort Stabilizing Wrist Brace
• Futuro Night Wrist Support
• Futuro Deluxe Wrist Stabilizer
• Hely and Weber Tiny Titan Thumb Wrist Brace
• Hely and Weber Titan Thumb Wrist Brace
• Medtherapies Lace-Up Wrist Brace
• Mueller Carpal Tunnel Wrist Stabilizer
• Mueller Green Fitted Wrist Brace
• Mueller X-Stay Wrist Stabilizer
• Ossur Exoform Wrist Brace
• ProCare IMAK Pil-O-Wrist Splint
• ProCare Loop-Lock Cock-Up Splint
• ProCare Foam Wrist Splint
• ProCare Quick-Fit W.T.O. Wrist/Thumb
• ProCare Cock-Up Wrist Splint

Wearing a certified carpal tunnel syndrome splint while you sleep is a great first-line treatment for this disorder. But if your carpal tunnel is more advanced or severe, then night splinting alone may not be enough to help reverse symptoms.

In that case, you will likely require more aggressive therapies in addition to night splinting. These include daily hand and finger stretching exercises and myofascial release massage for a period of 6-8 weeks.