Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief Now

Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief - 6 Steps to Heal Your Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has causes.  The causes can range from a vitamin B6 deficiency, to pressure on your nerves (especially the median nerve), to repetitive movement done incorrectly.

Of course, there are a few other causes:  being diabetic, pregnant, overweight, some of the systemic diseases like RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and injury to the hand, arm and wrist. 

Is surgery required for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome?  When you are hurting, you may feel desperate.  You may think they surgery is the only way out.  Sometimes, that's true, but...

Your body wants to be well.  Sometimes it just needs a little help from you.

If you could commit to helping yourself heal naturally, you'd have a good chance to heal.  Would it take up some of your time?  Sure.  Would it be worth it?  Sure.  Why? 

Because the steps you would have to take to heal your carpal tunnel symptoms would benefit your carpal tunnel AND would also benefit your whole body!

What are the steps you would probably need to take?  Here are several:

1. Take a vitamin B6 supplement, or a good balanced multi-B vitamin, or multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.  You might want to check with your doctor first.  Also, apparently a vitamin D deficiency can also cause muscle pain and other symptoms.
2. Take a class in that will allow you to stretch and strengthen your whole body, such as yoga.  That will help your muscles get back in balance.  Then your muscles will be happy and won't cause you pain.
3. Strengthen your whole backside, from knees to

How Does Yoga Relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome be helped by yoga? 

Yoga is a form of full-body movement which also incorporates breathing.  Controlling your breath helps you control your body and your mind.  Yoga is a form of full-body control.  It aids you in relaxation, too.

*  Yoga helps you get strong and get your muscles back "in balance." 

A lot of carpal tunnel symptoms are caused by muscles being "out of balance."  Some muscles become over-stretched and others become shortened and tight. 

*  Yoga helps you get long.  You stretch and twist and reach, thoughtfully and fully.  You use all of your muscles in many ways, just as you did as a small child.

So, you become strong and long, and that is ideal.

Pain happens for a reason.  Usually, that reason is that we are out of muscular balance.  Out of balance muscles get unhappy.  When they're unhappy, WE are unhappy.  Unhappy muscles cause symptoms. Yoga helps us get back into muscular balance.

Is yoga for everyone? 

Some people have health issues (high uncontrolled blood pressure, risk of blood clots, severe osteoporosis or glaucoma) and should definitely consult with their doctor before signing up for yoga classes.

Some people have difficulty moving or a severe lack of flexibility.  For them, yoga movements may be abbreviated and perhaps done while seated.  Every little bit of movement does help.

If you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, you can interview your potential yoga instructor.  Tell him or her about your symptoms and ask whether they think you will be able to take their class successfully.  Some movements may need to be

Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief & Yoga: How Does Yoga Help Carpal Tunnel?

The National Institutes of Health Carpal Tunnel Fact Sheet says:

"Alternative therapies - Accupuncture and chiropractic care have benefited some patients but their effectiveness remains unproved.  An exception is yoga, which has been shown to reduce pain and improve grip strength among patients with carpal tunnel syndrome."  (The highlighting is mine.)

So, I invited a yoga expert to talk about why, how, where, when, who, what and the benefits of yoga for carpal tunnel issues. 

Carpal Tunnel Radio's guest Rebekah Powers has been a yoga instructor and practitioner, group fitness instructor and personal trainer for 35 years, and she knows a lot!  The replay is at www.CarpalTunnelRadio.com

Rebekah shared a lot of helpful information with my listeners.  I'll share some of the highlights here.

What are some of the benefits of yoga?

Yoga offers strength and balance to your muscles.  This is accomplished through various movements and breathing.  Learning how to exhale completely makes space for your body to expand and become more open. 

This relaxes the muscles around your ribs and your upper body.  Those are the same muscles that get tight and cause carpal tunnel symptoms.

What should you look for in an instructor?

Rebekah said:  "Your body is your instructor."  She told us how to find a good instructor (look for certification, word-or-mouth and interview)  but she also advised us that we must listen to our own body when moving into poses (movements.)  If something seems inappropriate for us, we can move into a different pose or just relax, instead.

If you are considering yoga for carpal tunnel symptom relief, you'll want to listen to this episode of Carpal Tunnel Radio.

Rescue & Relief for Computer Users - Get Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief

Computer users (and others) can take advantage of this really cool little book to help get rid of carpal tunnel symptoms.   It is loaded with photos and it's easy to follow.

Author Gini Maddocks designed this stand-up book for people who are at risk of Repetitive Motion Injury or repetitive stress movement.  You can set it up right next to your computer.

Gini has been helping people get out of pain and stress for about 30 years and she knows what she's talking about!  I always enjoy interviewing her at Carpal Tunnel Radio.  Gini's book is geared to helping you increase your energy and reduce injury from repetitive motion or strain. 

Carpal Tunnel & Nutrition: Does Organic Food Fix Carpal Tunnel?

Does eating organic food help or hurt Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

I'm going to say YES! IT DEFINITELY HELPS! 

Why?

Once upon a time, all we humans could eat came from the ground, animals or fish.  It didn't come from factories.  It grew naturally.

Our bodies knew what to do with the food we ate then.

More and more, I believe that our bodies just don't know how to handle things we eat that are processed in factories.  Sure, sometimes lots of fresh produce goes into factories, but what comes out?  It's just not the same when our "food" is laced with chemicals (lots of them based on petroleum.) 

Because food that comes out of factories is much different than what we were designed to eat:

1.  It may not absorb properly; we can't get all the nutrients.

2.  Many nutrients may have been removed in processing (for instance, whole grains reduced to "white.")  Whole grains contain B-vitamins.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is often caused by a B-6 deficiency and B-12 deficiency contributes, too.

3.  Chemicals and additives are added for "taste" and shelf life.  (Did you know there is a whole chemical industry devoted to developing new flavors and scents so we will buy more products?) 

We weren't designed to eat petroleum products and "spices" from chemistry labs.  (Did you know that "spices" doesn't mean

Benefits of Good Posture for Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and symptoms in your hand, arm and wrist are probably caused by muscles about 90% of the time.  Why do I keep saying this?  Because it's true! 

There is so much that we each can do to get rid of physical pain including carpal tunnel symptoms.  When your back is weak and the muscles in the front of your body are too tight, you are setting yourself up for future pain as well as current aches & pains.  That's why it's so important for you to develop a strong back!  You can get the info to do that simply at Simple Strengthening.

When your posture collapses, or you develop "forward head" posture, the nerves and blood vessels that pass from your neck to your arm and hand are compressed.  Then your nerves will cause symptoms in your hand and wrist.

So you see, the cause of your carpal tunnel symptoms are not necessarily in or near your wrist.

The cause (at least one of them) can be your posture.  (You can read more about the other causes here at Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief.)

So, let's get rid of the causes instead of just treating the symptoms.  That would be a very good thing, because you deserve to feel better.

If you use all of your muscles, get a stronger back, and get your head back over your body (instead of letting it hang out in front of your body) you will have a better chance of getting rid of your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome naturally.

When Carpal Tunnel Pain Is Caused By Nerve Compression

Sometimes people eliminate things they have to do, or enjoy and want to do, to get some carpal tunnel pain relief.

They work at figuring out what aggravates their carpal tunnel issues and try to avoid those things. That seems to help because they often have fewer symptoms.

However, eliminating the actual causes of your pain will relieve your symptoms and keep them from coming back!

Pain always happens for a reason.  If you have had conventional medical treatment but still continue to have carpal tunnel symptoms, that means the CAUSE was not treated.

There are many causes for hand-wrist-arm pain but when your doctor (or you) suggests that "it's all in your head," he (or you) is wrong!

There are nerves in the neck that cause carpal tunnel syndrome. And, it's not a theory--it's fact! This happens especially to people with "forward head" posture and rounded-forward shoulders.

The nerves in your neck allow the ability to feel and sense in your hands and arms. When nerves are compressed, or pressed on, they cause uncomfortable symptoms in the area they serve. In this case, the symptoms are pain, numbness and tingling or burning, and the area is the hand-wrist-arm.

When you take the pressure off those nerves, they are allowed to function normally without causing symptoms. 

Surgery is NOT the only option!

Sometimes the nerves that carpal tunnel issues are in your arm or shoulder or wrist but, when you don't respond to conventional medical treatment, the muscles compressing the nerves are in your neck and upper chest. 

Muscles can be released with manual pressure.  That means someone can help you release those muscles, and you can get better, naturally.

You can find a lot of information on this right here at Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief.  Check out the "Videos" "Causes" and "Self Help" categories.

There is also an episode at http://www.CarpalTunnelRadio.com

called "When Your Doctor Thinks It's All In Your Head" that addresses it.

Pain happens for reasons. You just have to understand WHY you hurt-- how your body works--and then follow natural laws of your body to get rid of your pain.

Let's get rid of the causes so you can be pain-free.

"Because You Deserve to Feel Better!"

Stretches for Your Arm and Wrist - Video for Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief

I like the moves in this video for carpal tunnel pain relief and prevention.  Why?  Because they use the whole arm.

Your arm may not be the reason for your carpal tunnel symptoms.  Sometimes the cause is in your neck, chest or back.  Sometimes the cause is a vitamin deficiency or other physical health problem. 

Nonetheless, I like these carpal tunnel area stretches and I think you will, too.  As always, pay attention to your body while you do them and move thoughtfully. 

How often should you stretch?  Once a day isn't enough.  The more often you can fit in little bits of stretches, the happier your arm and hand will be. 

Just one warning:  Some people think that if a little bit helps, then they should do a whole lot.  It is possible to stretch too much and aggravate things.  I've done that myself.  If that happens to you, cut back or even stop temporarily.  Or, just don't do 1,000 stretches a day. :-)

(The man in the video is David Kuckhermann, a musician.  The email he gives in the video is David [at] Framedrums [dot] net.)

Now, on with the stretching video for carpal tunnel pain relief and prevention.

Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief with Posture - Why Does Posture Matter?

Can posture cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?  You bet!

I had a great call today with author Gini Maddocks, who is also a massage therapist (like me!)  Gini brings her unique perspective to our calls at Carpal Tunnel Radio.  You can listen to the replay any time, day or night. Here's a little bit from the call.

How does your posture cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

1.  When your posture fails, it's because the muscles in the front of your body have shortened.  When your shoulders "roll" forward, or turn inward toward your breastbone, it's because the muscles are short and tight.  Short muscles in the front of your body compress nerves that run from your neck to your hand.  When those nerves are squeezed, they cause nervy sensations in your carpal tunnel area.

2.  When your posture collapses, overstretched muscles in your upper back can develop "trigger points."  Trigger points "fire" or cause pain in your hand, arm and wrist.

3.  There are muscles in your neck that become tight when your head moves forward ("forward head posture") instead of staying over your body, where it belongs.  Those neck muscles (scalene muscles) can also cause pain in your carpal tunnel area.

What can you do to correct your posture?

1.  Strengthen your back side, from the back of your knees to the base of your skull.  There are articles at Simple Strengthening. 

2.  Stretch, relax, warm and release--open up--the shortened muscles in the front of your body.  You don't need to have a big stretch session.  You can do frequent short stretches many times throughout the day.  Why were these muscles short in the first place?  Lots of sitting, habits, certain work patterns, furniture, car seats--stuff like that.

When you help your body get better posture, you create a LOT of health benefits for yourself.  You will also get rid of many of the things that cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. 

Scalene Muscle Video for Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief

This carpal tunnel pain relief video really gets to the point!

Bodies are just so amazing!  They want to be well.  Sometimes they need a little help from you to get better.  Sometimes they need a little help from a professional massage therapist who understands bodies.

There are muscles in your neck which cause carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome.  (Syndromes are collections of symptoms.)  These muscles are called the scalene muscles, or scalenes.  There is a set of 3 or 4 on each side of your neck.

The professional in this video demonstrates a massage technique which addresses the scalenes.  It also shows more massage for carpal tunnel or thoracic outlet syndromes or symptoms.

It's a short video, but very useful.  If you go to a professional massage therapist, ask whether he or she knows how to treat the scalenes.  They are very often the cause of carpal tunnel symptoms.  After you see this video, you will have an idea of how your scalenes may be released. 

The professional who is demonstrating has a little accent, but if you listen with "soft ears" you will get a lot of it.  The words he says at the beginning that you need to know are "scalenes" and "sternocleidomastoid."  The sternocleidomastoid is also called the SCM muscle.

You have 2 pairs of SCM's, one pair on each side of your neck.  These muscles run from the "notch" in the middle of your collar bone to the skull bone just behind your ear.

Your scalene muscles are kind of hidden by, or tucked behind, the SCM muscles and collar bone.  The SCM needs to be moved out of the way in order to access the scalenes.

Other words you may hear are "brachialplexus" (a group of nerves in the collar bone area) and "thoracic outlet syndrome." 

You will notice that the model looks very comfortable.  Well, the truth is that when muscles are tight, and when there are trigger points in muscles, there may be some discomfort as they are being released.  This is normal. 

If you have any concerns or extreme discomfort, be sure to talk to your massage therapist.  It is, after all, your body!

Note:  This video is from YouTube and if an ad pops up, you can "x" it out if you want.

And, now, On With The Show!

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