Tips to Work a Hands-On Job with Carpal Tunnel

Around 10 million people in the US have carpal tunnel syndrome. Although “pain” is often listed as a symptom, the most prominent symptoms are numbness and tingling, according to experts from the American Medical Association. Doing activities that require fine motor control can make it worse. 

The Ortho 1 Medical Group providers know that carpal tunnel syndrome can make jobs that require using your hands more difficult. We also know that you may not have the option of changing to a job easier on your hands. The tips in this post are to help you adjust to working when you have carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Carpal tunnel basics

Before we get to the tips, we should talk about what happens when you have carpal tunnel syndrome. The bones in your wrist form a tunnel for the nerves that control your fingers, and the tendons and ligaments that help your finger joints work properly to pass through. 

The largest nerve that runs through your carpal tunnel is your median nerve, which controls your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half your ring finger. It also helps to move your forearm. 

When the tendons that run through your carpal tunnel become inflamed, there’s less room and more likelihood of your median nerve being compressed. Compression or irritation of your median nerve leads to the typical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome: numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in your hand or wrist. 

The inflammation can be due to overuse of the tendons in your wrist. For example, if you swing a hammer all day or type all day, you use the same muscles and tendons all the time, and they can become irritated and inflamed. 

Most people can’t just quit their jobs, so here’s what you should do. 

1. Take frequent breaks

You don’t need long breaks but stop throughout the day to flex and stretch your hands, rotate your wrists, and move around. This can improve blood flow to your hands and help keep your tendons nice and flexible. 

2. Pay attention to your level of exertion

You may find yourself gripping the steering wheel harder than necessary or striking the keys on your keyboard with more force than you need to. Pay attention to how you use your hands and adjust. 

3. Use a splint

If your doctor at Ortho 1 suggests wearing a brace or a splint, it could help relieve the pressure on your nerves. The splint may be uncomfortable initially, but you'll feel better if it lowers the inflammation. 

4. Discuss medication options

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could help reduce the pain you feel and ease the inflammation. If you can’t take NSAIDs, or they don’t work well enough, your doctor may prescribe oral steroids. 

5. Consider surgery

Your doctor may recommend surgery to relieve the pressure in your wrist. If carpal tunnel syndrome is left untreated, your median nerve could be permanently damaged. 

Personalized guidance

Carpal tunnel syndrome has numerous risk factors. Along with repetitive use injury, it can be caused by pregnancy, some inflammatory health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and you may have a genetic predisposition to develop the condition. 

Your doctor must understand the underlying factors contributing to your condition in order to suggest the safest and most appropriate ways to treat it. At Ortho 1 Medical Group, our experts provide tailored treatment plans to address your situation. 

If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, or pain in your wrists, hands, or forearms, schedule an appointment so we can assess your issues and develop a treatment plan.