Almost one in ten Germans between the ages of 40 and 70 suffers from so-called carpal tunnel syndrome; women are affected around five times more often than men. And most people ask themselves: What to do about carpal tunnel syndrome, what is the best therapy? But let’s start with the symptoms…
Instead of relaxing in restful sleep, many people are kept awake at night by pain in their hands. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome range from slight tingling to numbness to loss of sensation and severe pain. But discomfort can occur not only at night, but also during the day when under stress. If left untreated, the disease can lead to severe damage to the median nerve and loss of grip ability. Therefore, carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms must always be taken seriously and clarified. And it is right that you ask yourself: What should I do about carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a widespread disease – who is affected?
Women in particular are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. They develop it about five times more often than men. Women around and after menopause are particularly affected. But carpal tunnel syndrome can also occur during pregnancy. The cause of symptoms during pregnancy are swelling and fluid retention, which increase the pressure on the carpal tunnel and thus compress the nerve. For most women, the symptoms disappear completely once the baby is born and the body has adjusted again.
However, the symptoms most commonly occur with increasing age. The cause of the disease cannot usually be determined, but one-sidedly stressful activities such as very long periods of driving seem to promote the occurrence and severity of the symptoms.
Recognizing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
How can you recognize carpal tunnel syndrome? Experts speak of five key symptoms that provide a clear indication of the disease.
Tingling and numb fingers are very typical, with the thumb, index and middle fingers mainly affected. This symptom is accompanied by pain in the wrist and forearm. Especially in the morning, the wrist is often stiff and painful when moving. Two other important symptoms appear in everyday life: the strength in the thumb and the control of the fingers decrease, which leads to problems with gripping and frequent dropping of objects.
What to do about carpal tunnel syndrome?
The trigger for pain and numbness is an increase in volume in the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel or carpal canal is a kind of tube through which numerous tendons and the median nerve, the middle hand nerve, run. The tendons all have a fine covering, the tendon sheaths. When subjected to heavy strain, these tendon sheaths can grow, require more space and the pressure in the carpal canal increases. The severe symptoms are caused by the pinched nerve. If carpal tunnel syndrome is left untreated, the nerve can be irreparably damaged. The hand then remains numb and the ability to grip is limited. That is why it is important to act quickly when the first symptoms appear.
Conventional therapy consists of immobilizing the wrist using a so-called night splint; advanced carpal tunnel syndrome is treated with surgery. This involves splitting the roof of the carpal tunnel, widening the carpal tunnel and reducing the pressure on the nerve.
Curpal® is considered a gentle and extremely effective treatment alternative. curpal® is a new treatment method for carpal tunnel syndrome in which surgery can be avoided by actively stretching the carpal tunnel. Pressure is applied to the back of the hand using an inflatable air cushion incorporated into a cuff. This stretch widens the carpal tunnel and creates more space for the trapped nerve. Patients report that with just three applications a day, the pain decreases significantly after just a few days.
You can find out more about the product here.