Managing Digestive Disorders
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Managing Digestive Disorders

My name is Lilith Maclin and if you suffer from a digestive disorder, you can find a wealth of information about this type of medical condition in my blog. Three years ago, my husband was having severe stomach cramps and his doctor told him that he had a digestive disorder called ulcerative colitis. After my husband was diagnosed, I did thorough research to learn how to control and manage this disorder. We kept track of everything that my husband ate and when a certain food caused a flare-up of his condition, he eliminated that food from his diet. By learning all we could about this digestive disorder, my husband has been able to live pain free. If you want more information about this disorder and how to manage it, you can find it here by reading my blog.

Managing Digestive Disorders

Dealing with Tingling or Pain in Your Hands? How Can You Prevent Your Carpal Tunnel from Worsening?

Louella Davidson

If you spend most of your workday typing at a computer, assembling small parts in a factory, kneading fresh dough, or performing other repetitive work with your hands, you may begin to develop pain or an eerie tingling sensation in your hands and wrists. These symptoms can indicate the onset of carpal-tunnel syndrome, a potentially debilitating compression of the nerves and bones in your hands and wrists that interferes with the transmission of nerve signals from your hands to your brain. Once carpal-tunnel symptoms begin to set in, they may worsen quickly, making quick action imperative. Read on to learn more about treating your minor to moderate wrist pain and what you can do to prevent the development of carpal-tunnel syndrome.

How is carpal tunnel treated? 

There are a number of effective ways to manage carpal-tunnel syndrome, from minimally invasive wrist braces to surgery that can remove scar tissue and other compressing flesh from around the tendons and nerves in your wrists. In general, if your symptoms have only begun to develop, you'll be able to get by with much more minor intervention than if you've been dealing with pain, numbness, or tingling for years. It's likely that you'll be able to manage your pain, stiffness, and decreased range of movement using only wrist braces and the occasional ibuprofen.

However, in some cases, carpal tunnel can set in quickly or even develop following trauma (like injuring your wrists in an auto accident). If you've gone from being perfectly healthy and pain free to experiencing searing or shooting pains whenever you try typing, sorting, or picking up heavy objects, you may need surgery to repair these delicate nerves and ensure that they aren't being constricted by scar tissue. Your doctor should be able to quickly determine the best treatment path for you by performing a physical exam and some diagnostic tests like a CT scan.

What can you do to protect your wrists and hands at work?

In some cases, you simply don't have the option of avoiding the repetitive motion that led to your carpal-tunnel diagnosis; to protect your hands and wrists during these times, you'll want to get sturdy wrist guards that contain flexible aluminum or plastic shields that hold your hands in place. By avoiding the back-and-forth or side-to-side motion of your wrists during these times, you'll minimize wear and tear on your joints and ligaments while performing your job duties.

You may also want to get a more flexible and less bulky set of wrist guards to wear while sleeping. Those who toss and turn at night may inadvertently roll on their wrists or move them into an awkward position; wearing braces that prevent your wrists from twisting or overextending can allow you to wake up refreshed and pain free.

Make an appointment with a healthcare provider such as Town Center Orthopaedic Associates for more information. 


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