If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, you might need to reduce inflammation your body to either prevent carpal tunnel syndrome or at least subdue the symptoms. If you have inflammation, this can cause even greater swelling of the ligaments and joints so the pressure is put on the median nerve, which can cause CTS symptoms to flare up. How can you reduce your information?
For the most part, beginning to reduce inflammation as it relates to CTS begins with using anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin. If you have trouble with health problems caused by thinning blood, you should stay away from these, but for many people, these are safe and effective when taken in over-the-counter formulations and when used as directed. If you take over-the-counter medications like aspirin or ibuprofen, you won't need to get a prescription. Make sure you take the drugs with water so that the medications are fully absorbed and therefore the active ingredients are fully effective. Most of the drugs, you'll find, will say that you should take them every four to six hours, not to exceed a certain dosage (check the label) within 24 hours. Again, keep in mind that these drugs can cause stomach bleeding, so they're not benign, even though they can be obtained over the counter. Therefore, take with caution and always follow directions.
You'll have to help the effectiveness of the medications by limiting the use of your inflamed wrist and hand for up to two weeks. After that period, you can try to use it more normally and see if any difference was made. (During that period you should wear a wrist brace at night.) If little progress has been made by then, you need to see your doctor. He could prescribe a special anti-inflammation drug in the corticosteroids group of medications. These are more powerful drugs of the kind you've been taking, but they contain steroids and might have side effects.
You can also give your body anti-inflammation treatment by a change in your diet. Among anti-inflammatory foods that you want are omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in abundance in cold water fish, pumpkin and flax seeds, canola oil, and walnuts. Olive oil is not an omega-3, but it is highly effective in helping to reduce inflammation and ease pain. If you've been eating a lot of fatty red meat, you'll need to cut it out. You can replace some of it with the fish, but your body does require protein to fend off inflammation and meat is the most complete of all proteins. Replace your hamburgers with lean, grass-fed beef, or game meat like venison. Replace cow's milk with soy milk. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly green, leafy vegetables. Berries are among the best fruits you can eat. Don't eat fruit cocktails that are packaged in corn syrup, and avoid sweets. Also get a lot of whole grain. Only eat whole grain breads. Temporarily cut out starches as much as possible--no potatoes or corn.
If you think this is excessive to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, at least give it a try before you make a final decision. You may find that making these changes so improves your symptoms that the small amount of deprivation you feel by following a much stricter diet is absolutely worth it. In addition, there are some exercises you can do to strengthen your hand, wrist and forearm so that your CTS symptoms are reduced or even eliminated. - 30453
For the most part, beginning to reduce inflammation as it relates to CTS begins with using anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin. If you have trouble with health problems caused by thinning blood, you should stay away from these, but for many people, these are safe and effective when taken in over-the-counter formulations and when used as directed. If you take over-the-counter medications like aspirin or ibuprofen, you won't need to get a prescription. Make sure you take the drugs with water so that the medications are fully absorbed and therefore the active ingredients are fully effective. Most of the drugs, you'll find, will say that you should take them every four to six hours, not to exceed a certain dosage (check the label) within 24 hours. Again, keep in mind that these drugs can cause stomach bleeding, so they're not benign, even though they can be obtained over the counter. Therefore, take with caution and always follow directions.
You'll have to help the effectiveness of the medications by limiting the use of your inflamed wrist and hand for up to two weeks. After that period, you can try to use it more normally and see if any difference was made. (During that period you should wear a wrist brace at night.) If little progress has been made by then, you need to see your doctor. He could prescribe a special anti-inflammation drug in the corticosteroids group of medications. These are more powerful drugs of the kind you've been taking, but they contain steroids and might have side effects.
You can also give your body anti-inflammation treatment by a change in your diet. Among anti-inflammatory foods that you want are omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in abundance in cold water fish, pumpkin and flax seeds, canola oil, and walnuts. Olive oil is not an omega-3, but it is highly effective in helping to reduce inflammation and ease pain. If you've been eating a lot of fatty red meat, you'll need to cut it out. You can replace some of it with the fish, but your body does require protein to fend off inflammation and meat is the most complete of all proteins. Replace your hamburgers with lean, grass-fed beef, or game meat like venison. Replace cow's milk with soy milk. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly green, leafy vegetables. Berries are among the best fruits you can eat. Don't eat fruit cocktails that are packaged in corn syrup, and avoid sweets. Also get a lot of whole grain. Only eat whole grain breads. Temporarily cut out starches as much as possible--no potatoes or corn.
If you think this is excessive to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, at least give it a try before you make a final decision. You may find that making these changes so improves your symptoms that the small amount of deprivation you feel by following a much stricter diet is absolutely worth it. In addition, there are some exercises you can do to strengthen your hand, wrist and forearm so that your CTS symptoms are reduced or even eliminated. - 30453
About the Author:
Tom Nicholson has made available to the public his unique carpal tunnel exercises that can reduce pain and discomfort for any carpal tunnel sufferer. Discover a way to help yourself without resorting to surgery. Click here to reduce your suffering and improve your quality of life by doing a series of easycarpal tunnel exercises.
