Carpel tunnel advice

WARNING: Follow the following advice at your own risk. I'm not a doctor and not the least bit qualified. The following advice was given to me specifically by a specialist. However, friends that I've sent this information to have given me positive feedback so I'm making it available online.

I do feel safe recommending you always seeking a second opinion when a doctor recommends surgery for carpel tunnel. I visited one doctor who was completely and totally wrong (or perhaps just greedy) on this issue.

1. Keep good posture when typing

• OSHA information on this subject
• More from the Orthopaedic guys
  

This is a life-long requirement, not just for those suffering from carpel tunnel syndrome.

2. Wear Braces

This is the one I use and recommend. You don't have to buy from this source (look around online for the cheapest) but definitely buy and wear braces for both hands as much as possible. Especially while sleeping. Definitely avoid anything that requires heavy lifting or straining. Just a quick jerk can set back a lot of healing.

I generally washed them once every few days using normal bleach (not chlorine bleach -- very different).

I strongly recommend wearing braces on both hands so that you don't end up overcompensating and giving your other hand the same condition.

3. Anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen/Advil) + B6 vitamins

B6 helps repair nerve damage. Ibuprofen will help reduce swelling and allow your hands to heal. You should NOT take it and continue to strain your hands -- this can cause even more damage.

Avoid taking more than 300 mgs of ibuprofen at a time (twice a day at most) and make sure you take them with a full glass of water -- can cause real problems. You can take more than 300 mgs of B6 and it doesn't matter. Its just not helping.

As pain diminishes, use less ibuprofen/B6. Stop taking it as soon as possible.

4. Non-drug methods

A. Use ice on your hands -- hold a bottle of water left in the freezer over night against your wrist. It will hurt but wait until the pain goes away. Count to 10 and then take off the ice. Don't do it longer than this or you can get frostbite.

B. In the mornings, your swelling is at its lowest so you can put heat on your wrists to increase circulation. This will help your wrists to heal. Heat means a warm cloth wrapped around your wrists.

C. Use your hands less. Simply put, just take a break from everything if possible. Watch movies, television, read, etc. This is difficult but may be necessary.