Are you experiencing tingling or burning sensations in your palm and fingers? Do you ever find yourself wincing at a strange, lancing pain in your forearm? Do your fingers feel clumsy and strange for no reason? If this sounds familiar, you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, is a condition in which too much pressure is put against the median nerve. This nerve is located in your forearm, surrounded by muscles and tendon. Many things can create too much pressure. In many cases, a bone fracture or excessive swelling can cause it temporarily, while poor wrist posture can cause it indefinitely. There are many ways to treat CTS. One of the most common and affordable methods is the use of a carpal tunnel splint.
A carpal tunnel split is especially useful because it immobilizes the wrist, which can help in reducing the pressure. However, many patients dislike using splits because they're uncomfortable, clumsy, and make working difficult. Fortunately, there are a variety of different models that can help you treat your carpal tunnel syndrome in relative comfort.
There are some carpal tunnel splint models, for example, that only immobilize the wrist, keeping it straight and fitting naturally around it. This leaves your fingers free to move, making working, cooking, and overall mobility much easier. Unfortunately, if your case of CTS is more severe, you may need a model that immobilizes your thumb as well, but there are many designs that allow you to make good use of your fingers as well.
When it comes to buying a carpal tunnel splint, your best chances at success is to get fitted for one. This will ensure from the start that your splint doesn't chafe or pinch and allows you the most freedom of movement possible.
Many patients, when first experiencing the symptoms of CTS, believe that a carpal tunnel splint is unnecessary. After all, the tingling sensations seem very faint at first and are often mistaken as their hand simply falling asleep. They're very ignorable. However, if you notice your palm, thumb, forefinger, middle finger, and ring finger tingling or stinging, it's likely that you do have carpal tunnel syndrome and it's necessary to treat these symptoms before they get worse.
In the earlier stages, you may not even need a splint. In some cases, braces padded with soft gel or foam is enough to keep the wrist straight. You may also use wrist friendly devices around the office, such as wrist pads for your keyboard or mouse. Consult your doctor today and learn how these devices can help you!
