Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Muscles)

Signs and Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Muscles)
1. Numbness and tingling in the thumb and first three fingers.
2. Shooting pains through the hand, wrist, and sometimes forearm.
3. Pain that may be worse at night, interfering with sleep.
4. In severe cases, weakness  in the hands and fingers.

What to do now
1. Rest the hand and wrist when possible.
2. At work, wear a wrist splint if it relieves your pain.
3. If you have trouble sleeping, wear a wrist splint (available at drugstores) at night to reduce pressure on the nerve.
4. Take anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or aspirin to reduce pain and swelling.
5. To ease discomfort, apply a cold pack for one hour.

When to call a doctor
1. If pain and other symptoms persist or get worse despite a month of home care.

How to prevent it
1. Change you hand position often when working, and take frequent breaks.
2. Make sure your hands are in line with your forearms as you work. Use a wrist pad, available in office supply stories, when you type.