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Causes for Carpal Tunnel Pain

Hey!

I was reviewing some carpal tunnel information from Wikipedia and it said that carpal tunnel syndrome is idiopathic.

“Idiopathic” basically means: no known cause.

Well, then, why did we just recently develop carpal tunnel pain as adults? We used our hands and arms even more when we were children. We did more things, used more different positions, challenged our bodies more, climbed ropes and trees and…

Wait a minute! Maybe we are onto something here.

We did a lot of things. We used all of our muscles. We were in balance. Our posture was great because we weren’t stuck in just one position for long periods of time (at least, not until we started school.)

Then we grow up and somehow get into pain.

Hmmm.

So I propose that carpal tunnel pain is not “idiopathic.” Rather, it is caused by imbalances in our muscles.  And it could also be caused by some other things like diabetes, weight gain, inflammatory foods or nutritional deficiencies.

Sure, it is possible that some of us have a smaller than average carpal tunnel. Yes, it is possible that the contents of the tunnel swell and cause pressure on the median nerve.

But, why? For no reason? Or, is it because….

We managed to get the muscles in our necks, shoulders, arms and hands out of balance? Is it because the contents of our carpal tunnel became inflammed and swelled due to something we are doing…or not doing?

And getting back to using ALL of our muscles and correcting our posture and developing a strong back side from knees to head could just be the answer.

Serious cases of carpal tunnel syndrome may possibly require surgery to reduce the possibility of permanent nerve damage, but early stage CT syndrome can benefit from self-treatment and/or physical therapy. True carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers have more numbness or nerve sensations than pain.

If you haven’t been to your doctor yet for diagnosis, it is possible that your pain in the vicinity of your carpal tunnel may not be CT syndrome. Relatively few people have true CT syndrome.

More people have pain caused by overuse, underuse or abuse of their muscles. Poor posture and a forward head position can contribute to pain in your hand and wrist, too.

In conclusion today, whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome or plain old pain in your arm, wrist and hand, you can get better. You can benefit from following a program to get your body back in balance.

And get out of carpal tunnel pain.

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Do You Have Carpal Tunnel Pain?

Something in your hand, wrist or lower arm hurts, and you suspect carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Maybe you even have a doctor’s diagnosis of CTS.

But, do you really have CTS? Or, do you have other pain which is in the vicinity of the carpal tunnel?

CTS is often misdiagnosed. There are many reasons why your carpal tunnel area may have symptoms.

So, what is the cause? What perpetuates your pain? What can you do to overcome CT pain and to prevent recurrence?

You have to be a detective. Follow the clues, solve the puzzle and win the prize: no more pain.

You must be your own physician. Pay attention to your symptoms (where you hurt) and learn to treat them yourself. Or, refer treatment out to the best professionals available. I’ll help you know how to self-treat and how to find the best practitioners, if you need one.

Remember, no two people are alike, and no two bodies are the same. There are natural laws which indicate where we should look to find the cause of the pain. The cause of your pain may not be the same as someone else’, but if you can describe your symptoms well enough, you will be able to find the source, or cause, of your CT pain. And knock it out.

A big surprise is that where it hurts is often only a symptom, and not the cause. For instance, if you have a headache, your head hurts. Head pain is a symptom. So what is the cause?

The cause of the head pain is almost always tight muscles or soft tissue (not boney tissue) somewhere else. These tight muscles have areas which trigger, or cause pain elsewhere. These areas are called trigger points.

The trigger points (TPs) which cause your head pain may be in your upper back, the front or back of your neck, under the bottom of your skull, or in your face and temple area.

By the way, if you have serious, sudden new pain, especially in your head, see a doctor as soon as possible. Or, sooner!

And, did you know, we are not supposed to experience the “common everyday headache”? We are supposed to be head-pain free.

Headaches or tight neck and shoulder muscles very often go hand in hand with CTS, so I’ll be discussing them, too, and give you some tips for them, also. But, those are topics for another day.

You will probably be very surprised when you find out the causes for your pain. This is not something we learn in school. Too bad. It would save us lots of discomfort and fear and surgeries.

Very few doctors know the true cause of pain, including pain in the hand, wrist and arm. They didn’t learn it in med school, either.

We will talk very soon about carpal tunnel pain and how to reduce and eliminate it.

In the meantime, love your arms, massage them and feel the circulation increase.

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Release Back Pain, Part Two

Last time we talked about a simple back pain relief method.

You were to follow the directions in that article to lay on the floor with your legs at 90 degree angles at the hip and knee. Both calves were supported on a chair seat, or similar piece of furniture.

Here is the second part of the movement to relax your back.

Please read all of the directions first, so you understand what to do before you start.

You have determined which piece of furniture you will use. You have chosen something which is the correct height that will allow you to do the movement with both calves up.

Now, you have to determine whether that piece of furniture or another will allow the following movements. Also, you need to determine whether you can position yourself by yourself, or if you will need assistance from someone else.

For the second position, move over toward the edge of the furniture. One calf is still supported, but your other leg is now flat on the floor.

So one leg is still up on the chair or footstool with hip and knee at 90 degrees.

The other leg is flat on the floor, in line with your body.

Keep the toes of the flat leg pointed toward the ceiling. Don’t let that foot flop outward. If you need to, prop that foot with a pillow or some books to keep your toes pointed toward the ceiling.

And just lay there.

After half the amount of time you have decided you can allot, move over or move the furniture so that you can place the flat leg back up on the chair. Let your other leg be flat on the floor.

Remember, the more your back hurts, the longer the time you should spend in these positions.

A minimum of five to fifteen minutes per position would be a good starting place. That is a total of fifteen to forty-five minutes.

You may do this as often as you like. If you can manage several times a day, or more extended sessions, that is good.

And while you are laying there, pay attention to your breath. Breathe into your neck, your midback, your low back, your hips.

Breathe so your chest rises. Make your belly rise. Breathe into your thighs.

If you can’t really feel your breathe everywhere yet, then pretend you can.

Imagine the healing powers of your breathe, your body.

Your body wants to be well.

It can be well.

Sometimes it just needs some attention, some time to be still and heal, and some time to breathe.

Don’t be disappointed if you have a temporary relapse. That happens sometimes while we are in a healing stage. You know, two steps forward and one step back? And then two more steps forward.

You are on the road to wellness.

Kathryn

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Simple Pain Relief Tip for Back Pain

When your back hurts, you don’t feel like doing much. It may feel strained, or you may have way more uncomfortable pain than that.

Try this tip:

Read everything before you try this. Do it only if you are certain that you can get back up, as you feel now. Or, make sure to have someone around to help you, in case you need help.

Lay on the floor. Position yourself so that your tailbone is close to a chair or couch, or even a table. You will be placing your calves on this piece of furniture.

Have this picture in your mind before you start: Your hip joints and knee joints will be bent in right angles (90 degree angles.) Your calves will be parallel to the floor.

Get both calves onto the couch or furniture. Get your “sit bones” as close as you can to the couch.

Now all you have to do is lay there. Fifteen minutes would be great. The more pain you are having, the longer you should rest in this position. It relaxes the low back and all of the muscles which attach to the back.

You could use this position several times a day if you are in a lot of pain. Or you could use it once a day when you feel the need.

There is a second part of this simple back pain relief movement which I will share with you next time.

P.S. Remember, breathing is not only necessary, it is a good way to relax. When you are laying down, practice breathing in a way which will expand your chest and back.

And relax.

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Simple Pain Relief for Headaches & Migraines: Prevention

There are many causes for headaches. And some of us have sensitive neck muscles or nerves which make us prone to head pain.

Most of our pain problems are caused by muscles which are overstretched. They become taut, which is a type of tight. Trigger points develop. Trigger points are areas of tight muscle which cause pain elsewhere.

Common areas for trigger points which can cause headaches or head pain are in the muscles in the shoulders and neck. These muscles get overstretched because we spend ninety percent of our days with our heads and arms in front of us. The muscles in the front of our bodies shorten from this position. So the poor back and neck muscles get stretched all the time. They complain and ache. Sometimes they develop trigger points. Then we get head pain.

To avoid overstretching your shoulder and neck muscles, try these tips.

When standing, keep your head over your shoulders. Try not to let your head be in front of your body.

Don’t force your head backward. That will probably aggravate your muscles and may cause a headache. Rather, work to develop a curve in your low back toward your abdomen, which will allow your head to move over your shoulders without effort.

When seated, sit upright. Tuck a pillow behind your low back if you need support. Many chairs and couches and car seats make us recline. Then our heads move forward and our necks get strained. We get head pain.

Much of our pain can be eliminated when we understand how our wonderful bodies work, and when we understand what we can do to help ourselves.

I wrote Head Pain Natural Relief to help migraine and headache suffers have an easy-to-use, self-help, pain relief “bible”.  It’s short and to the point with good illustrations.  I had a ton of information to share and it’s all there.

You are at the right place.

“Because You Deserve to Feel Better!”

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What Creates Pain?

Did you ever think that there may be a simple, logical reason for most of your pain?

I’m going to share a secret with you. This is not something most doctors learned in school. That is why they cannot share it with you.

The most common reason for pain is, are you ready, muscle imbalance.

Let’s say that I sit for eight hours a day at a desk. Maybe I walk around for ten minutes during the whole day. My muscles get used to being in that seated position. Some muscles are shortened in that position. Some muscles are being unused, so they shut off.

Or maybe I drive around all day in my pickup. I like to stick my left elbow out the window and keep my right hand down low, on the gear shift. Of course, I have my right foot on the accelerator.

By and by, when I get out of my truck, those muscles will stay where they have become used to being. My muscles now think that this new position is comfortable. Now when I sit on the couch, I assume the same posture, because now it is “comfortable.”

We are always most comfortable in our dysfunction. Whatever we get used to is what feels comfortable to us.

Is it best for us? Will it help us grow older strong and straight?

The answers are no.

What muscle imbalance does do is cause us pain. Sometimes current pain, always future pain.

When we lose that nice balance we used to have, when we were toddlers, we are setting ourselves up for future pain and dysfunction.

Headaches, migraines, neck and shoulder pain are all caused by muscles complaining. Upper and lower back pain, carpal tunnel pain, almost any pain you experience is caused by muscles. When muscles are unhappy, they complain. When muscles complain, you experience pain.

It is never too late to get back into balance, and start getting out of pain. It takes some work and dedication, but is well worth the payoff: Having straight posture with a strong back will take us into old age in a healthy, happy body.

If you are already doing an exercise program of some sort, be sure to incorporate exercises to strengthen the backside of your body from neck to knees. Squeeze your shoulder blades toward your spine. Do exercises to strengthen your shin muscles.

Get more information on how to strengthen your whole backside at SimpleStrengthening.com.

Be strong and be happy.

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10 Simple Pain Relief Secrets

I recently read an excellent book about natural pain relief.

It has a great disclaimer. It said, basically, if you think you need the protection of a disclaimer, then close the book now.  🙂

The author believes that the most important consultation is the one each person has with himself or herself. He believes in taking personal responsibility for one’s own health. I think he is very wise, and you will be very wise if you take responsibility for your own health and well-being.

Your body wants to be well and pain-free.

There are simple techniques we can follow to get out of pain. There are easy movements and simple “tools” which will help us get back to where we want to be.

There are logical ways to eat, move and live which will enable us to feel well.

So, what are the “10 Simple Pain Relief Secrets?”

1.  Be responsible for your own wellness.
2.  Take good care of your body:  feed it wholesome foods and avoid fake foods and additives.
3.  Reduce your stress.
4.  Improve your posture.
5.  Stretch in the correct directions.
6.  Breathe deeply.  Move your ribs.
7.  Get enough sleep.
8.  Drink sufficient water.
9.  Become knowledgeable about your body and the causes of your pain.
10.Do what you need to do to become pain-free, naturally.

These ten simple pain relief secrets are a good start.  I am looking forward to sharing more with you.

“Because You Deserve To Feel Better!”

Kathryn Merrow – The Pain Relief Coach

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