You wouldn’t put a desk job on a list of high-risk occupations, but your hands and wrists would if they had a say. The unnatural position, the repetitive motion, the constant strain on your wrist — all of it is a recipe for disaster in the form of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve, which runs through a narrow passageway on the palm side of your hand (the carpal tunnel), gets compressed and irritated.
The median nerve is responsible for providing sensations to the palm side of your thumb and all of your fingers (except your little finger). It also provides the necessary signals to move your thumb.
When you have carpal tunnel, you experience significant tingling and numbness in your fingers and hand; some even develop what feels like electric shocks. As it progresses, carpal tunnel syndrome can cause muscle weakness.
With your upper limb health on the line, Dr. David Wu and our team at CurePain want to help you get serious about carpal tunnel syndrome prevention.
Here are our favorite strategies for keeping this painful condition at bay.
Your hands were not made to stay locked in a typing position, and that unnatural posture triggers the avalanche that turns into carpal tunnel syndrome. We strongly encourage you to take short, frequent breaks during the day or alternate tasks whenever possible.
During your break, gently massage and stretch your hands to reduce pressure on your carpal tunnel.
Set a quiet timer to remind you when it’s time for a break, or ask a coworker to join you and keep you accountable.
Ergonomic office products aren’t a gimmick, and they could be what saves your hand and wrist from carpal tunnel syndrome. Find a keyboard and mouse that lets your wrists settle in a more natural, neutral position.
Many (if not all) workplaces have space in their human resources budgets to provide their employees with the proper tools. Check-in with your administrative team to find out how they can help you improve your workspace.
Sitting up straight and with proper posture is a good health tip and can significantly reduce the stress on your hands and wrists while you work.
Remember to keep your shoulders squared to your desk, your chin parallel to the floor, and your arms in a relaxed, neutral position.
Did you know you can exercise your way to reduce the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome? Daily exercises that strengthen the muscles and tendons in your wrist and arm can help you avoid inflammatory conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Start with a simple wrist stretch and graduate to short sessions of squeezing a soft rubber ball. You can buy and keep grip-strength products in your desk drawer. Yoga and weight training can help strengthen your upper body, as well.
Cold hands are often stiff and painful, which is bad news if you’re trying to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. If you can’t control the temperature in your workspace, we recommend turning up the heat or investing in personal hand warmers, space heaters, and/or fingerless gloves.
Carpal tunnel syndrome often comes on slowly and gradually gets worse. The first sign might be almost imperceptible, like you have to “shake out” feelings of discomfort or numbness. Don’t try to DIY your carpal tunnel syndrome treatment plan.
Dr. Wu and our team have years of experience diagnosing and treating carpal tunnel syndrome, and we can recommend a variety of treatments, including:
In severe cases, carpal tunnel syndrome may require surgical intervention to release the ligament and relieve pressure.
Carpal tunnel syndrome threatens virtually every office worker and desk jockey — but you don’t have to become the next victim. If you suspect carpal tunnel syndrome is creeping in, don’t hesitate to call our friendly staff or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation at our Torrance, California, office today.
