Best Ergonomic Tools to Prevent Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome is thought to affect 3-6% of working U.S. adults at any given point in time. Carpal tunnel can cause pain in the wrist and hand, cramping, numbness, and other issues that make it hard to function.

At the South Bay, Torrance, California offices of Dr. David Wu, an interventional pain management specialist, you can receive treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome and learn how to prevent the damage to your wrist from becoming worse. 

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an injury caused by repetitive use. The median nerve runs from the forearm down the inside of your arm and through your wrist to the palm of your hand. As it passes through the wrist, the nerve travels through an extremely narrow passage called the carpal tunnel, made up of ligaments, tendons, and small bones.

If there is any inflammation in the tunnel, the nerve can become compressed, leading to eventual permanent nerve damage. Having small bone structure can increase your chances of CTS, as can working a job that requires repetitive hand and wrist motions, like typing or data entry. This makes women up to four times more likely to develop carpal tunnel than men. Men with carpal tunnel typically work manual labor jobs, like construction.

Typical symptoms of CTS

The very first symptoms likely to show up if you are developing CTS are numbness or tingling of your first two fingers and your thumb, or cramping in the wrist or palm. Over time, symptoms of CTS can become more severe, and include:

• Itching or burning sensations
• Chronic pain in the wrist
• Weakness of the wrist and hand, causing an inability to grasp and hold objects
• A constant feeling that your hand and arm are asleep, even waking you up at night

CTS prevention 

If you work at an office job, using ergonomic body positions and tools can help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and mitigate the effects of CTS if you have developed any symptoms. Use these tips to create an entire ergonomic workspace:

• Set up your desk and chair so that your forearms are straight and level with your desktop
• Use an ergonomic keyboard or keyboard pad to keep your wrists positioned properly while typing
• Invest in a vertical mouse to improve your hand position while working
• Consider fingerless gloves to keep your hands warm and prevent cramping
• Wear wrist splints during long stretches of repetitive hand motion 

If you have already developed severe CTS, Dr. Wu can help. He can recommend a custom orthotic to help position your wrists and hands more precisely to avoid compression or give you steroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain. Alternately, you may be a candidate for wrist surgery to correct the damage.      

Ready to say goodbye to wrist and hand pain? Contact our office at 424-232-8930 or make an appointment online today.