The most commonly asked questions about the CarpalRx and how it treats carpal tunnel syndrome.
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• Call us at 800-450-6118
• Email us at help@CarpalRx.com
Most patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel enjoy complete or near-complete resolution of symptoms by 30 days.
There are four basic stages of carpal tunnel syndrome:
1) Mild
2) Moderate
3) Severe
4) End Stage
You'll find out which stage carpal tunnel you suffer from - after Dr. Z evaluates your answers to the Hand Symptoms Severity questionnaire. He'll send you a comprehensive report on your condition.
Moderate conditions may take longer to heal due to the length of time you've been enduring symptons, and your age.
Severe symptoms typically resolve to our patients' satisfaction by 60 days. End stage carpal tunnel (conditions in which surgery can't help) can take up to 180 days.
You're encouraged to contact Nurse Rose with questions and she'll happily schedule a phone appointment with Dr. Z as required. No extra fees ever.
You have a full 60 days to try the CarpalRx. If you’re not one of the 97% of patients who get satisfactory relief, then return it for a complete refund of your purchase price.
A closing phone consult with Dr. Z is required so he can recommend the best care of your hands moving forward. No hassles and no problems. Promise!
No, we're here to help you and we speak with patients every day. Just contact Nurse Rose and she'll set it up for you. Same day consults are no problem (as needed). No additional fees EVER.
Pain usually disappears within 30 days after therapy begins. Numbness and tingling can take up to 60 days. Return of strength and dexterity may take longer.
Carpal tunnel symptoms are brought about as a result of damage to the median nerve. The median nerve resembles a rope made of many different fibers woven together to make the whole. Think of each symptom (pain - numbness - tingling) as resulting from damage to its respecive nerve fiber. Pain nerve fibers heal faster than those fibers controlling tingling and numbness.
Maybe. That’s because no treatment (surgery included) can cure your predisposition to carpal tunnel once you've been affected.
This explains why about 50% of surgery patients have 2nd surgeries, and why we have so many surgery patients come to us for help.
Some authorities are advocating carpal tunnel be reclassified from a "syndrome" to a "disease." Similar to diabetes, carpal tunnel cannot be cured. However, symptoms can be kept at bay with treatment.
For diabetes, the treatment may be insulin. For carpal tunnel, it's mostly myofascial release therapy (which is what the CarpalRx delivers).
After years of patient histories, we’ve learned that symptoms MAY return after months or years, especially if you return to your regular hand activities without taking precautions.
We also know that a second, abbreviated, regimen (5-10 days) of CarpalRx therapy will eliminate symptoms once again. Symptoms are not likely to return any longer.
The speed and completeness of symptoms' disappearance depends on the individual.
Specific factors that may complicate healing include:
1) If you’ve had symptoms for more than 2 years,
2) The severity of your symptoms,
3) Your age,
4) If you continue to use your hands a lot while undergoing therapy, and
5) If you have other chronic conditions (like diabetes, RA, COPD).
Please contact us about your specific details.
If you have mild carpal tunnel syndrome, then bracing in combination with regular stretches can satisfactorily resolve symptoms....AND keep them at bay!
No brace (by itself) will heal moderate to severe stage carpal tunnel syndrome.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (hand or finger pain, numbness, tingling) can also be due to other conditions; most notably flexor tendonitis and thoracic outlet syndrome.
You can take self-tests for flexor tendonitis (scroll down to Flexor Percussion Test) here and thoracic outlet syndrome here.
No. Once your symptoms are eliminated, you can stop using CarpalRx therapy.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually a “bilateral” condition. That means 88% of the time, symptoms also occur on the other hand within 6 months.
So pay close attention to your other hand over the coming weeks and months. Be on the lookout for symptoms, and treat them early.
If and when symptoms appear, start treating your other hand immediately.
A One Hand Bundle is for treating one hand or both hands. A Two Hand Bundle treats both hands simultaneously.
Absolutely! You simply treat one side and then switch to the other side. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome on both hands, the Two Hand Bundle is a convenience so that you can treat both hands simultaneously (instead of one hand, and then the other).
You must warm your hand(s) for 15 minutes after each evening CarpalRx massage session.
Our Heating Mitts are provided as a convenience, and will warm both sides of your hand(s).
But you can roll up an ordinary heating pad into a tube shape (hold the rolled-up shape with tape) and slip in your hand to achieve the same effect.
Yes. Daily finger stretches are a critical component of CarpalRx therapy.
You can find a link to a blog article describing them here and a video of Dr. Z demonstrating them here.
No. We ship via US Postal Service "ground" within the USA and Canada. Parcels generally arrive in 3 to 5 days.
Elesewhere in the world, we ship FedEx International which takes 4-7 days to deliver.
Most health insurance companies reimburse your CarpalRx purchase. The reimbursement amount varies from policy to policy. Call your insurance carrier and provide the information in this link.
No. This is something you must do on your own.
Yes. The difference is how you apply the massage. For treating tendonitis, you must use your other hand and move the CarpalRx massager up and down your forearm (palm side) for 15 minutes.
The massaging pressure should only feel like a tickle. You should barely feel the massaging heads on your forearm. Adjust the Easy Sleeve to achieve this.
The myofascial release massage performed by the CarpalRx is an aggressive type of therapy. Many patients first trying the CarpalRx feel their symptoms worsen during -- but only during -- the actual massage session. This disappears in 2-4 days. It’s actually a good sign if you feel discomfort in the first couple days. It means your median nerve is still alive and active!
Tighten it just enough to hold the massager unit, and to provide a light, tickling massage.
Make it snug but not tight. It must prevent your wrist from over-bending.
Many (but not all) hand specialists know about the CarpalRx and recommend trying it before surgery.
60 days from date of delivery.