Carpal tunnel pain relief benefits can easily come from contrast therapy involving both hot and cold temperatures. Short periods of cold therapy will help reduce inflammation and increase oxygen circulation. Heat will also further increase circulation and help bring blood to the damaged area to help with healing.
Carpal tunnel syndrome usually presents itself as a tingling or numb feeling in the hand or wrist. It is caused by compressing the median nerve in the wrist and can progress quickly to severe pains that shoot up into the arm as swelling increases over time. A number of people are at a higher risk for developing carpal tunnel including people who work at a computer for many hours each day. The pressure they put on their wrists as well as the repetitive motions they perform will cause the damage. Pregnant women and women going through menopause are also at a risk of developing carpal tunnel pain because of fluid retention issues. Women are naturally at a higher risk than men for developing pain because their carpal tunnels are smaller by nature.
Contrast therapy refers to alternating hot and cold temperatures to help painful injuries like carpal tunnel recover quickly. Many doctors recommend finishing with cold rather than heat, because it leaves the area with decrease inflammation. Delicate tissue in the body responds very well to this natural treatment option and many people find great relief in a short amount of time. What’s even better is that this non-medicinal remedy won’t have any of the negative effects that products like anti-inflammatory medications have such as upset stomach or bowel changes.
Applying cold therapy to damaged muscle or tissue usually requires an application of at least fifteen minutes. When you’re dealing with a more delicate area of the body like the hands you should minimize the effort to only a couple of minutes at a time as this process can become uncomfortable very quicky. The iced area should have ample time to come back to a normal, warm body temperature to allow for muscle and tissue to relax and soften. This allows for the area to stretch easier.
Carpal tunnel pain relief can be found in hot or cold therapy but contrast therapy is a proven process that will improve the amount of pain a person experiences. This decreases the risk of needing surgery to repair the problem. Thermal-Aid makes hot and cold therapy packs that are 100% natural and are a useful tool when applying hot and cold temperatures to one or both wrists that are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome.