Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, also referred to as CTS, is a condition that occurs when the median nerve is compressed as it passes into the wrist. The Carpal Tunnel is the route through which the tendons and median nerve enter the hand, and if the tunnel itself contracts, or the tendons that run through it become swollen, this puts pressure on to the median nerve. The result of this compression can be painful, or in some cases can cause pins and needles or numbness within the hand. The symptoms tend to be worse at night and in many cases the pain can disturb sleep. A lot of sufferers say that the pain is worst in the morning but often diminishes as the day goes on.
There is now a range of medical treatments available to minimise or reduce the symptoms, but in some cases some simple stretching exercises can help reduce the pain and increase flexibility:
Wrist Bend
Rest your elbow on a table with your arm facing upwards, then gently bend your wrist forward at a right angle and hold for five seconds. Straighten your wrist and then gently bend it backwards for five seconds. Do this several times until your wrist feels looser.
Wrist Lift
Place the palm of your hand on the table and lift your fingers up. Use your other hand to put pressure on the knuckles until you feel the muscles in your forearm stretch out – then swap hands and do the same with the other hand.
Wrist Flex
Keep your arm straight in front of you with the palm of your hand facing down and then gently bend your wrist downwards. Use your other hand to press the stretching hand downwards and hold it for a few seconds and then allow it to straighten. Do this with each hand several times.
Finger Bend
Start with your fingers out straight and then gently bend the middle joints of your fingers down toward your palm, repeating with each hand until the fingers feel loose.
Hand Squeeze
Get hold of a rubber ball, ideally around the size of a tennis ball, and squeeze it as hard as you can for around five seconds, then repeat the movement about ten times with each hand.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is often affected by the nature of the work that we do; long periods spent typing or working with vibrating tools can make CTS symptoms feel much worse. If you are concerned about pain in your wrists you should contact your doctor or health professional as in some cases the pain can be linked to arthritis or an underactive thyroid gland. If you feel that your CTS has come on due to your work you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation – you can contact one of our solicitors free of charge and without any obligation to continue with a claim if you choose not to.
If you or a member of your family feel that you have developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a result of your work environment and would like to speak to us about your options, please call us on 0800 122 3130 free of charge, request a free no-obligation call back, or start your claim now by filling in the claim form.
