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Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when tissues inside your wrist joint become inflamed and start to swell. This happens with certain medial conditions like pregnancy and arthritis. It also happens when we stress our flexor tendons on the job. Certain occupations are known for tight grasping, grip-and-release, rapid and repetitive finger movements, and constant wrist movement. These and other harmful hand activities put certain professions at high risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

So how do lessen the symptoms? You must reduce the interior wrist inflammation. This can be done by:

1. Resting you hands often
2. Avoiding or modifying the stressful hand activity (e.g., use ergonomics or wear gloves)
3. Wearing a night brace (splint)
4. Performing stretching exercises
5. Using myofascial release massage

In fact, studies show that doing ALL of the above simultaneously will eliminate or sufficiently reduce symptoms within 30-60 days of daily application.

Resting your hand doesn't mean taking a nap. It means taking short, frequent breaks from activities that cause carpal tunnel syndrome like numbness, pain, and tingling. The general rule is for every 30-60 minutes of vigorous work, take a 2-3 minute break. It's best to use these rest breaks to do quick stretching exercises (see below).

The majority of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome can trace their symptoms to how they use (or used) their hands. High stress occupations, hobbies or periodic DIY projects are usually the culprit.

If this is the case, then the first step is to recognize the problem. Then try to determine ways to avoid performing the stressful activity For example:

1. Do you bend your hands excessively? Change your angle or position to lessen the bend.
2. Do you grip constantly? Wear gloves or use ergonomic tools.
3. Do your fingers move rapidly and repetitively? Take short breaks (every 5-10 minutes) to do quick finger stretches.
4. Do your hands bend to push or do they lift heavy loads? Wear a strong brace to keep you hand from bending too far.
5. Do you sit with a slouch or hunch? Be sure to maintain good sitting posture. And use an ergonomic mouse and keyboard.

Most people with hand pain or numbness reach for a wrist brace before anything else. But did you know that wearing a wrist brace can actually be harmful if you have carpal tunnel? The harm comes from:

1) Wearing the brace during the daytime, and

2) Wearing the wrong kind of wrist brace

The purpose of a wrist brace is to prevent you from over-bending your hand while you sleep. Over-bending can cause increased pressure on you median nerve, and a brace will prevent that.

But wearing a brace during the daytime can be harmful. The reason is because your hand is already strained by doing its normal daily work. A brace restricts movement. Therefore, as you do you job with your hand, you hand must also fight the restrictive brace. That's more than doubles the strain. So it's better to allow you hand to move freely while doing its job. The only exception is if you KNOW you will be over-bending your wrist during an activity. In that case, a brace can help support your wrist and minimize internal damage.

Likewise, wearing the wrong kind of brace can make you hand worse. Brace purchased in pharmacies like Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, etc. are not certified to use with carpal tunnel syndrome. That's because most contain a "palmar spine" (a metal stiffener on the palm-side of the brace). When you sleep, you naturally bend you hand backward (in extension). A palmar spine will then push into your wrist, increasing pressure on the median nerve. A certified carpal tunnel brace has one or more stiffeners on the sides or the back side of the hand, avoiding this problem.

Wrist braces sold in pharmacies are not certified to use with carpal tunnel syndrome. In other words, only a “certified carpal tunnel brace” is appropriate. Why? Pharmacy braces contain a “palmar spine”, which is a flat metal stiffener on the palm side of the brace. If you extend your wrist (i.e., bend your hand backward) while wearing a brace containing a palmar spine, the spine will push into your wrist. This will greatly increase the pressure inside you wrist joint, and ultimately compress the median nerve. The nerve will react with symptoms like pain and numbness. This is why people who wear a pharmacy brace while sleeping often wake with worse symptoms.

Most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are due to stressed and strained fingers and hands. In this instance, you can loosen your flexor tendons by stretching them. This helps reduce any inflammation and swelling that can transmit pressure to the median nerve.

The most important or “core” carpal tunnel stretching exercises all aim to loosen tendons. You should do these stretching exercises every 2-3 hours daily. Also do them right after a stressful hand activity. They should be part of your daily work routing, and they only take a couple minutes to do. These 4 core stretching exercises are:



1) Prayer Stretch

2) Stop Stretch

3) Finger Interlace Stretch

4) Thumb Stretch

The flagship home remedy for anybody with carpal tunnel syndrome myofascial massage (or myofascial release massage). Studies show that it relieves carpal tunnel symptoms in patients with any stage of the disorder (even severe stage carpal tunnel).

Myofascial massage works by destroying the adhesions around tendons which cause irritation, inflammation, and swelling. As massage breaks up the adhesions, swelling reduces and symptoms are eliminated.

You cannot perform myofascial release massage on yourself (without difficulty). That's because you need two fingers (preferably thumbs) to knead the tissue over your wrist area.

The massage must be performed at least once daily. However, two or three times daily is better. Also, you need the daily massage for at least 30 days. More severe symptoms may require 60 days. By then, symptoms resolution should be complete.

You cannot perform myofascial release massage on yourself (without difficulty). That's because you need two fingers (preferably thumbs) to knead the tissue over your wrist area. Therefore, you must recruit a partner to perform the massage.

The technique is not technically difficult, but requires dedication for (at least) twice daily application. Here are instructions to perform myofascial release massage manually.

If you can not use a partner, then you should try the CarpalRx. This patented medical device performs the same myofascial release automatically and at home. It has a 97% effectiveness rate - and always comes with a 60 day money back guarantee.

Myofascial release massage (manually or with the CarpalRx) works exceptionally well. But you can eliminate symptoms even faster! In addition to the myofascial massage, incorporate frequent resting breaks, avoid strenuous hand activity, do periodic and regular stretching exercises, and wear a night brace.

This combination of therapies is like a double punch to carpal tunnel syndrome. Each therapy supports the others in reducing inflammation and swelling inside the wrist joint.

With the proper treatment, most people eliminate all (or nearly all) of their carpal tunnel symptoms permanently. The success rate is 97%. 

Typically, pain is the first symptom to resolve by 2-4 weeks. This is followed by numbness and tingling in another 3-5 weeks. Strength and dexterity take longer to resolve, often even after myofascial massage therapy concludes. Severe symptoms may require several more weeks to see satisfying results.

As your hands heal with myofascial massage therapy, you will have the natural inclination to do more with them. But be careful! The way you used your hands previously was the reason they were injured to begin with. Remember, when you get carpal tunnel syndrome, you have it FOR LIFE. It’s incurable - even with surgery. Certain therapies like the CarpalRx can help manage it, and keep symptoms at bay. But nothing can cure this disorder. So once your hands feel better, take precautions. It will be foolish to invite the same harmful hand activities which caused the problem to begin with.

Remember, constant gripping, pinching, grip-and-release, acute wrist bending, rapid finger movements, and vibration are the enemy! See other harmful hand activities here.

If you find your symptoms have returned after a strenuous activity (like a marathon typing session or a weekend kayaking), then you'll need to start your therapy over again. Most patients who see symptoms return after a few months only need to apply the therapy for about half as long as the first time to see good symptoms resolution.

About 97% of people see satisfying results with the CarpalRx by 60 days. That means about 3% do not experience relief.  If this is the case, then you should consult with you doctor. Whatever you do, do not neglect the problem!

Sometimes even the most dedicated regimen can fail. And the last thing you want is for your symptoms to worsen. If left untreated, carpal tunnel can lead to catastrophic loss of hand sensations, strength, and dexterity. So be sure to address the problem as soon as you can.

The CarpalRx is a patented and FDA cleared medical device intended for home treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. It does so by exactly mimicking the massaging fingers of a therapist. The result is myofascial release massage, which is clinically proven to relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Over 97% of patients see good symptoms relief in just 30 days with twice daily treatment. More severe cases might require more therapy time. To boost the effectiveness of CarpalRx therapy, you can include hand resting, activity avoidance, night bracing, and stretching exercises into your therapy routine.

1) Does the CarpalRx work for everybody?

The CarpalRx works in 97% of patients. We do not know why 3% of patients do not get good results. However, anybody who is not satisfied with their results by 60 days will get their money back.

2) How good is CarpalRx therapy?

With a 97% success rate, the CarpalRx is amazingly effective. (In contrast, Advil has a 50% success rate in reducing pain!) CarpalRx even works for patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome. (Check your severity here.)

3) How long does CarpalRx therapy take to work?

Symptoms remission is determined by a few factors: A) your severity level (mild, moderate, severe), B) how long you've had symptoms, C) your age, D) presence of other health problems, E) whether or not you follow the protocol (e.g., discontinuing hand stressing activity). Under ordinary circumstances, pain will dissipate in 2-4 weeks. Numbness and tingling may take another 3-5 weeks. Strength and dexterity usually longer to resolve, even after myofascial massage therapy concludes.

4) How many times a day do I need CarpalRx therapy?

Clinical studies show that twice per day massage sessions (morning and evening) are optimal. However, after years of following cases, we've found that some patients have slightly quicker and more complete symptoms resolution when using the CarpalRx three times daily.

5) Can I do myofascial massage without the CarpalRx?

You cannot do it easily on yourself -- but a partner can help! A proper massage requires two fingers (thumbs work best) so that you can knead the tissues over the wrist area. The kneading action transmits a shearing effect down and into the flexor tendons to break up adhesions. Be sure your partner is willing to commit to the twice daily routine for at least 30 days.

6) Does CarpalRx hurt to use?

No, but while using it during the first several message sessions, you may feel some irritation or discomfort, as if your symptoms are exacerbated. But the discomfort only lasts a few minutes. Actually, this is good news! It means your median nerve is still healthy and responding to the treatment. Within a couple days, there is no more discomfort.

7) Is CarpalRx better than surgery?

Carpal tunnel release surgery has a 50-60% success rate. That means by year 2, about half of patients are satisfied with their results while the other half are not. In contrast, over 90% of CarpalRx patients are still satisfied by year 2.