At-Home Carpal Tunnel Treatment Options That Ease Tingling and Numbness in Your Hands

Experiencing tingling, pain or numbness in your wrists and hands? It could be symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is often caused by repetitive activities like knitting, gardening or typing. Luckily, this common ailment typically isn’t serious and can be managed at home with the right self-care remedies. Here, we break down the best carpal tunnel treatment options you need to know about, plus when to consider more intensive options to get the relief you need.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome? 

“Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to symptoms such as tingling, numbness and pain in the hand and finger,” says Mitchell McDowell, DO, board-certified orthopedic surgeon and president at M Bone and Joint. “These sensations can significantly impact everyday activities and tend to worsen over time if left untreated.”

Although anyone can get carpal tunnel, it tends to be more common in women and people with conditions that cause inflammation, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. That’s because inflammation puts more pressure on the median nerve, triggering those pesky symptoms. 

Woman's World Answers

What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer? Can I prevent dementia? What is ‘ghost poop’ What’s the right way to do Kegel exercises? What are the best foods to burn belly fat? What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer? Can I prevent dementia? What is ‘ghost poop’ What’s the right way to do Kegel exercises? What are the best foods to burn belly fat?

What are the early warning signs of cataracts? Does Ozempic cause hair loss? What are the best natural beta-blockers? Can you delay menopause? Do statins cause weight gain? What are the early warning signs of cataracts? Does Ozempic cause hair loss? What are the best natural beta-blockers? Can you delay menopause? Do statins cause weight gain?

Powered by

Your doctor can diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome by taking your medical history, performing a physical exam and scheduling nerve tests, such as an electromyograph (EMG) test and/or nerve conduction study.

Wellness

Carpal Tunnel or Arthritis? How to Tell the Difference and Get Relief

Not that long ago, carpal tunnel syndrome was all over the news. Blame the modern age and repetitive tasks like typing for the surge in nerve pain in our hands and wrists. Though the condition has retreated a bit from the headlines, it’s no less common today, affecting up to five percent of Americans. But […]

7 carpal tunnel treatment options you can do at home

You should begin treating your carpal tunnel as soon as you suspect you may have it, notes Sheetal DeCaria, MD. “The longer the condition goes on, the harder it becomes to reverse,” says Dr. DeCaria. “Carpal tunnel symptoms should be treated as soon as possible.” 

A great start: trying to pinpoint the underlying cause. “The first step should be finding out if you are performing any repetitive hand motions or activities that are leading to the symptoms,” Dr. DeCaria says. “These might include poor positioning when typing or activities with repetitive movements at the wrist.” 

Even the simplest movement can strain your nerves if it’s done over and over again. Once you’ve determined what’s causing your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, you can work on eliminating (or at least limiting) those behaviors. 

Then you can move onto conservative treatments to help relieve the pain and pressure of carpal tunnel syndrome, including:

Rest and stretch

If you can’t avoid activities that aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome, taking breaks helps. The next time you sit down to knit or write a journal entry, set a timer for 10 minutes. As soon as the timer goes off, stop what you’re doing, stretch your hands and wiggle your fingers for at least 20 seconds. Repeat throughout the day.

“Frequent breaks allow tissues to recover and prevent prolonged nerve compression,” explains Jacob VanDenMeerendonk, PT, DPT. “Even short breaks every hour can make a big difference.”

Tweak your habits

If everyday tasks (like typing) and hobbies (like knitting) are triggering carpal tunnel symptoms, one of the easiest nonsurgical treatment options is to adjust your habits. Simply resting your wrists on a rice-filled sock while you type or putting a pillow in your lap to support your arms while you knit can ease this pressure, notes VanDenMeerendonk. “Small adjustments can distribute stress on the hands and arms more evenly, reducing irritation to the nerve.”

Wear a splint at night

Aside from avoiding any pain-triggering movements, wearing a splint and taking anti-inflammatory medications are often the first line of defense against carpal tunnel syndrome. 

“Wrist splinting and activity modifications are standard first steps to help manage symptoms and prevent further irritation,” says Dr. McDowell. “Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can also offer short-term relief. These may be topical or oral, and are used to dramatically decrease inflammation within the carpal tunnel.”

Carpal tunnel often flares up at night, so many people wear a wrist splint in the evenings and overnight. “Many people tend to sleep with their wrists bent during sleep, so splinting can reduce nighttime symptoms,” VanDenMeerendonk adds.

Also smart: If you’re woken at night by numbness and pain, simply shake your hands out as if you were drying them after washing. “This increases blood flow and temporarily reduces nerve compression,” VanDenMeerendonk explains.

Apply arnica cream

If traditional carpal tunnel treatments aren’t providing enough relief, consider an herbal remedy like arnica. “Arnica is thought to reduce inflammation and support healing,” says Dr. McDowell. 

It’s a centuries-old pain reliever and can be consumed or applied as a topical gel. Research is limited, but one small study in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine showed a reduction in pain for carpal tunnel patients who applied arnica daily for two weeks. Be sure to follow the directions provided with the product, and talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about interactions with any other medications you may be taking.

Stay hydrated 

It may seem counterintuitive, but drinking plenty of water reduces fluid retention that can trigger carpal tunnel symptoms. When you’re dehydrated, your body signals your kidneys to hold onto every drop of fluid, which can cause swelling in the wrists. (Discover how much water you should drink in a day.)

Warm up

Heat therapy eases pain, tames inflammation and boosts blood flow, say experts at Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, who suggest dunking your hands in a sink full of warm water three to four times a day. 

Consider red light therapy

Deal of the Day

This Deep Conditioning Collagen Hair Mask for Has 4.9 Stars and Is 80% Off — Get It for $20! View Deal

Research in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation suggests that short-term red light therapy use may help improve the discomfort of carpal tunnel and restore mobility by taming inflammation. One to try: NovaaLab Red Light Therapy Pad.

Wellness

Struggling With Wrist Pain? See How To Treat Ulnar Wrist Pain at Home

If your outer wrist feels sore and achy, you might chalk it up to arthritis. But that discomfort could be ulnar wrist pain, which affects the side of the wrist closest to the pinky finger.  And it can affect your ability to drive, swing a pickleball racquet or even brush your hair. The discomfort can […]

More intensive carpal tunnel treatment options

“If home remedies don’t work, you can undergo occupational therapy and/or get a steroid injection,” Dr. DeCaria says. That said, “if the above fail, some patients undergo carpal tunnel release surgery, which is a minor surgery” to relieve pressure on the median nerve.

If your symptoms aren’t going away or are getting worse, talk to your doctor about other treatment options, including carpal tunnel surgery, to determine what’s right for you.