How to Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that can significantly impact daily life by causing pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. While surgery is an option for severe cases, many seek non-surgical remedies for relief. In fact, nearly 90% of people with severe carpal tunnel symptoms opt not to have surgery, which is typically the last and final carpal tunnel syndrome treatment that doctors recommend.

In this article, we’ll be delving into some natural alternatives and home remedies for carpal tunnel, exploring a range of treatments like wrist splinting, lifestyle changes, exercises, and ergonomic adjustments aimed at reducing symptoms and improving hand function. 

Whether you're in the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome or looking to avoid surgery, this guide will provide valuable strategies for managing your condition naturally and effectively.

Pros and Cons of Using Pain Medicines to Treat Carpal Tunnel

Most carpal tunnel pain can be managed by taking ordinary over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines. Pain medicines are the most widely used way to treat the aching or sharp pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

• FIND OUT: do you have carpal tunnel? No strings attached self-test.

Other symptoms like numbness and tingling are usually successfully managed using methods like nocturnal bracing, stretching exercise, and massage (discussed in detail below), while most people use a combination of these methods to eliminate symptoms, depending on their severity.

When you use one or more of these treatments, symptoms will normally go away in time, provided you keep up with the therapy. In other cases, more aggressive options may be necessary.

You've probably tried taking pain medicines to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. And if so, they probably worked well enough to ease the painful symptoms. But it’s only temporary relief - just enough so you can get some sleep.

Actually, all pain medicines merely mask the pain. They dull pain sensations enough to give you some relief, but the reason you're having the pain is not addressed by these medicines, which is why the pain comes back again and again. It's like having an infection under your skin and using ice to numb the burning pain. It may feel good while the surface of the skin is numb, but nothing is being done to address the reason for the infection.

Pain from carpal tunnel syndrome is no different. But some people find that temporary relief from pain medicines is good enough.

The great advantages of pain medicines to treat carpal tunnel syndrome are that they're easy to take, inexpensive, and readily available. That's why patients use pain medicines more than anything else to treat this condition.

Almost all pain (even carpal tunnel pain) is a result of inflammation. That's why anti-inflammatory drugs are a good way to eliminate carpal tunnel pain.

Two basic types of drugs reduce inflammation. These are steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs for short).

The most popular steroid used for pain relief is cortisone. Cortisone can be taken in the form of a pill (oral) or an injection (steroid shot).

To treat carpal tunnel syndrome, steroid pills don’t work nearly as well as shots. That’s why many people opt for steroid shots for carpal tunnel. But steroid shots are only a temporary fix for carpal tunnel. They're not intended for long-term pain management. 

The main problems with steroid shots are the significant risks and side effects. The most important are:

• Nerve damage
• Joint infection
• Thinning of the tissue around the injection site
• Inflammation in the joint
• Rupture or weakening of tendons
• Osteoporosis (bone thinning) in the joint
• Weight gain

For these reasons, most doctors give a patient only 3-4 cortisone shots per lifetime. And because of the effects listed above, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually a better choice to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. However, NSAIDs have their own problems.

By far, the most popular way to treat carpal tunnel without surgery is over-the-counter products called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. The most common ones are probably in your medicine cabinet right now. These are (with their generic names) Tylenol (acetaminophen), Aleve (naproxen), Advil (ibuprofen) and Motrin (ibuprofen).

Just like cortisone, NSAIDs relieve pain by reducing inflammation. However, unlike steroids, they're much safer to use. But they're not completely safe. 

The FDA recently issued a warning of heart attack and stroke risk for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Such serious side effects may occur as early as the first few weeks of using NSAIDs. Also, the risk might increase the longer you take them. Other serious NSAID risks include:

• Allergic reactions like swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing, skin rash
• Stomach or intestinal problems like bleeding or ulcers
• Kidney failure, especially in those with existing kidney problems

Therefore, the FDA recommends taking NSAID drugs sparingly. That means an occasional dosage to relieve temporary carpal tunnel pain is fine for most people. However, the danger comes when trying to treat carpal tunnel syndrome pain on a long-term basis. In other words, taking these medicines every day for 3-4 weeks is not advised.

Taking pain medicines to treat carpal tunnel syndrome merely dulls the pain temporarily. It does nothing to eliminate the underlying cause of the inflammation. That cause is due to adhesions on your wrist tendons. 

The formation of adhesions is hereditary. That's why if a close relative has carpal tunnel syndrome, you're at high risk for getting it too. 

Adhesions are responsible for producing tendon inflammation (swelling) inside your wrist joint. As a result, fluid pressure builds up inside the joint. Eventually, the fluid pressure becomes so great that it crushes the median nerve. The median nerve is one of the major nerves in the hand. And that’s why, when damaged, it causes so much pain, numbness, or tingling in your hand and fingers.

So, how do you get rid of the tendon adhesions safely? The 4 most powerful home remedies for carpal tunnel are abbreviated as B.R.E.M. That means Brace, Rest, Exercise, and Massage. Note that all of these are also natural remedies!

Brace your hand at night. This is called nocturnal bracing. A carpal tunnel night brace keeps your wrist joint from hyper-flexing or extending and causing more tissue problems.

Also, make sure you use a certified carpal tunnel brace because a generic brace will do more harm. You can tell if it's NOT a certified carpal tunnel brace (even though the package says it is) by looking at the palmar surface of the brace. If it contains a metal spine (as pictured above), then it's not a certified carpal tunnel brace.

Why is this bad? When we sleep, all of us unconsciously bend our hands backward. A palmar spine strapped to your wrist will therefore press into your wrist joint. This pressing increases the pressure inside the carpal tunnel, crushing your median nerve even more. That's why most people who wear an improper night brace wake up in the morning with worse symptoms.

Finally, if you have carpal tunnel, NEVER brace your hand as you work during the daytime. Your wrist joint is already stressed, which compromises the internal structures such as the tendons and median nerve. Working with your hands while wearing a brace makes your wrist subconsciously fight the brace in addition to doing its regular work. So why add even more stress to the joint?

When it comes to home treatment for carpal tunnel, nature's most healing remedy is rest. It's built into our genetics to rest when we're injured. Are you not feeling well, or did you hurt yourself? If so, your natural inclination is to become tired, and so you rest. It's nature's way to shut down and repair.

The injury caused by carpal tunnel syndrome is no different. But since your carpal tunnel symptoms have been present for so long, you became accustomed to the chronic feeling of needing to rest. But the feeling is there, nonetheless.

Therefore, the most basic way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome is with rest. That means:

• Rest your hands periodically while you work.
• Do not engage in the activity that caused the tendon stresses to begin with.
• Modify the activity that caused the stress, like change the position of your hand or grip.
• Refrain from repetitive stress, like constant keyboarding.

Finally, make sure your sitting posture is proper for your job (see illustration above). Many office workers using a computer keyboard and mouse have extremely poor sitting posture. This causes unbalanced upper body forces to transmit to the shoulders, arms, and hands.

Effectively, your hand never gets a rest from mechanical stress. Ultimately, carpal tunnel syndrome can result.

It sounds so simple and basic, but exercises are some of the best ways to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Stretching exercises lubricate tendons and help remove adhesion that forms during repetitive stress. All of this creates a healthier tendon that will not swell and cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Contrary to popular belief, the best stretching exercises don't have to be involved or time-consuming. Nor do you need special equipment to do them. In fact, the most effective stretching exercises only take 30 seconds to complete. That means whatever you're doing, stop every 30 minutes and do these quick exercises.

These exercises are perfect while on the job. That's because they're highly effective while taking practically no time away from your work. And with only 2-4 weeks of these exercises (depending on how severe your carpal tunnel syndrome actually is), symptoms usually resolve completely.

When patients ask about the best natural way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, I never hesitate to respond, "massage!" And I have volumes of documents attesting to the tremendous effectiveness of massage for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Massage is the oldest therapy known to mankind. And massage facilitates healing for almost every condition known. It also can be used under almost any circumstance, with very few exceptions (for instance, it's contraindicated with skin burns or lacerations).

A particular type of massage called myofascial release is best to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. That's because of how it's performed and what it does to tissues below the skin. 

Its twisting and kneading motion safely and effectively breaks up adhesions on tendons so they don’t re-form. Also, the specialized kneading simultaneously drains excess fluid from the wrist joint to relieve pressure on the median nerve. This is like a double-punch to get rid of symptoms permanently.

Usually, after a course of about 4 weeks of twice-daily myofascial release massage therapy, symptoms fully resolve. Even severe carpal tunnel symptoms resolve completely.

The downside of myofascial release massage is that you cannot do it on yourself. A therapist (or a helper) needs to perform the circular, kneading motions required to treat carpal tunnel syndrome effectively.

The power of fruits and vegetables in combating inflammation, particularly in conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, cannot be overstated. These natural foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which play a crucial role in reducing inflammation and aiding the body's healing process. For instance, leafy greens like spinach and kale are high in Vitamin K, which is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. Berries, with their abundant antioxidants, can counteract the oxidative stress often associated with inflammation.

Crucial to this anti-inflammatory arsenal are the bioactive compounds found in these foods, such as flavonoids and carotenoids. These compounds not only reduce inflammation but also strengthen the body's immune response, aiding in the overall healing process. Citrus fruits, rich in Vitamin C, help in collagen formation, which is essential for repairing any damaged tissue in the carpal tunnel area.

Furthermore, the inclusion of omega-3 fatty acids, found in certain nuts and seeds, can significantly contribute to reducing inflammation. These fatty acids are known to inhibit the production of molecules and substances linked to inflammation, such as eicosanoids and cytokines.

Incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables such as these into your diet can provide a synergistic effect, enhancing the body's ability to combat the inflammation associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Managing carpal tunnel syndrome without resorting to surgery is entirely feasible with the right approach and dedication. These  non-surgical methods can include wrist splinting, targeted exercises, and lifestyle changes, all of which play a crucial role in alleviating symptoms and improving hand function.

While NSAID pain medicines are the most popular of all the carpal tunnel syndrome treatment options, the FDA says none are truly safe to use in the long term. That’s why it’s so important to turn to natural remedies and home remedies that not only help with the pain, but can greatly improve or even eliminate the underlying issues causing the carpal tunnel as well.

Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen. With patience and persistence, these non-surgical options can lead to a noticeable improvement in your symptoms, enhancing your quality of life and keeping surgery at bay.