How can I treat carpal tunnel without resorting to surgery?

If you develop carpal tunnel syndrome, you might be worried that you’ll need surgery to treat it. Fortunately, many people with carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated without resorting to surgery. 

Carpal tunnel is a common wrist problem in the U.S.; it’s reported that nearly 4% of Americans develop this wrist issue in their lifetime. One way you can effectively treat carpal tunnel without using surgery is by working with a physical therapist. 

How physical therapists can treat your carpal tunnel and help you avoid surgery

Physical therapists are experts at treating the human musculoskeletal system, which includes your wrist. This knowledge allows these specialists to treat your carpal tunnel and help you avoid wrist surgery. Three ways your therapist can help you meet these goals are: 

• Reducing pain — Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause pain in the wrist, hand, fingers and forearm. Physical therapists can help decrease your pain. A study found that physical therapy offered similar levels of pain reduction compared to surgery; this study also reports that PT also led to similar improvements in function and grip strength. 
• Decreasing tension — Tense forearm muscles can be an underlying cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Tension in these muscles increases strain on wrist ligaments that run through the carpal tunnel. The additional strain can inflame a ligament. 

In turn, this can lead to carpal tunnel and median nerve compression. Physical therapists can use dry needling and other techniques to reduce forearm muscle tension, which can ease pressure on the median nerve. 

• Improving ergonomics — Increasing the safety of your work environment is the goal of ergonomics. Physical therapists can offer ergonomic recommendations that can help treat your carpal tunnel syndrome. For instance, they can show you how a vertical mouse and ergonomic keyboard can reduce strain on your wrists. Such recommendations can also help you avoid a recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Find treatment for your carpal tunnel that can help you avoid surgery at Back in Motion

You don’t have to continue wondering if carpal tunnel treatment that can help you avoid surgery is out there. It is. Our Back in Motion Physical Therapy team is primed to help you find effective treatment for your wrist condition. We offer free screenings that can confirm that your symptoms are being caused by carpal tunnel. 

Additionally, our physical therapists excel at creating personalized therapy plans designed to reduce your symptoms and prevent them from returning. We even offer at-home care and virtual therapy services that can help treat your pain right in your own home. 

Contact us today for more information about how we can treat carpal tunnel syndrome or to schedule your initial appointment.