Treating Carpal Tunnel with Tens Therapy
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is painful, annoying, and for some, it's unavoidable. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can make simple tasks impossible and make it difficult to be effective at work, especially if your job requires extensive computer use.
According to a 2011 report from the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 3.1% of employed adults ages 18-64 had experienced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome within their last 12 months of working. Considering the continuously growing prevalence of the use of computers in the workplace, one would have to assume that the CDC’s estimate would be even higher had their study been done today.
According to Mayo Clinic, “Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes numbness, tingling and other symptoms in the hand and arm. [It] is caused by a compressed nerve in the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway on the palm side of your wrist.”
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by a variety of factors including:
- Repetitive hand, wrist, and forearm motions
- Stress
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Structural problems in the wrist
Adults over the age of 55 are at the highest risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The symptoms tend to occur gradually. Early warning signs include feeling a pins and needles sensation in hands and fingers, itchiness in hands, and observable changes in handwriting quality.
In most cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, simply resting the affected hand and wearing a wrist splint can help lower symptoms over time. Some more severe cases require invasive surgery to prevent the nerve damage from becoming permanent.
TENS For Carpal Tunnel
TENS Therapy can be quite effective in dealing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In conjunction with hand exercises and proper rest, TENS Therapy can help reduce pains associated with the condition. This can make it easier to deal with discomforts resulting from the condition without the potential side-effects of over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a nuisance, but it can be treated completely naturally with a combination of rest, hand exercises, a wrist splint, and TENS Therapy. If you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and would like to treat it naturally, ask your doctor if a truMedic TENS Unit might be right for you.
Click here to check out this Youtube video on proper electrode pad placement for relief from Carpal Tunnel symptoms.
More on TENS Therapy:
How Does TENS Therapy Work: Infographic
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