Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Nighttime splinting may be a good option if you're pregnant because it does not involve the use of any medications to be effective. Even though you only wear the splint at night, it can also help prevent daytime symptoms. A splint that holds the wrist still while you sleep can help relieve nighttime symptoms of tingling and numbness. If the condition is diagnosed early, nonsurgical methods may help improve carpal tunnel syndrome, including: If you have numbness in your hands, you need to see a health care provider. Splinting and other conservative treatments are more likely to help if you've had only mild to moderate symptoms that come and go for less than 10 months. Other treatment options include wrist splinting, medications and surgery.

Avoid activities that make symptoms worse.

Take more-frequent breaks to rest the hands.

In the early stages, simple things that you can do for yourself may make the problem go away. Treat carpal tunnel syndrome as early as possible after symptoms start. This test may be used to diagnose the condition and rule out other conditions. A small shock is passed through the median nerve to see if electrical impulses are slowed in the carpal tunnel.

In a variation of electromyography, two electrodes are taped to the skin. This test can identify damage to the muscles controlled by the median nerve, and also may rule out other conditions. During this test, your provider inserts a thin-needle electrode into specific muscles to evaluate the electrical activity when muscles contract and rest. This test measures the tiny electrical discharges produced in muscles. This can help determine whether the nerve is being compressed. Your provider may recommend an ultrasound of your wrist to get a good picture of the bones and nerve. However, X-rays are not helpful in making a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Some providers recommend an X-ray of the affected wrist to exclude other causes of wrist pain, such as arthritis or a fracture. He or she will test the feeling in the fingers and the strength of the muscles in the hand.īending the wrist, tapping on the nerve or simply pressing on the nerve can trigger symptoms in many people.

Your provider will conduct a physical examination.

They also tend to occur at night and may wake you during the night, or you may notice the numbness when you wake up in the morning. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms usually occur while holding a phone or a newspaper or gripping a steering wheel.

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