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Coping with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common pregnancy symptom that results from the excess fluid you retain in your body when you are pregnant. Basically, what causes swollen ankles during your pregnancy can also cause CTS.
Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to ease your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptomsso that CTS doesn’t prevent you from doing daily activities or cause you problems later on.
- Avoid activities that aggravate your CTS. These activities can vary greatly from person to person.
- Make sure your wrists are flat when you are typing. The worst position is to have your wrists bent downwards, adjusting the height of your desk chair can help reposition your wrists.
- Wear a wrist splint or hand brace, especially when you go to bed.
- Use special technology tools. An ergonomic keyboard and/or mousepad with wrist support can ease a lot of discomfort.
- Take breaks to move and stretch your hands and wrists. If you wake up in the middle of the night with numbness or pain do the same thing. Literally, shake it off.
- Don’t sleep on your hands. You can try propping them on a pillow, but that can be hard if you’re sleeping on your side, which is the best sleeping position during pregnancy.
- Apply ice or cold packs to your wrists, especially if they’re painful or ache.
- Yoga, hand massages and acupuncture can all bring you relief.
If none of the above methods help, you should contact your doctor to discuss taking pain relief medication. If Carpal Tunnel Syndrome inhibits your daily activities and sleeping patterns or doesn’t go away after you give birth, make sure you speak to your doctor about it.
Tags: carpal tunnel syndrome, CTS, labour and birth, pregnancy, pregnancy advice, pregnancy help, pregnancy problems, pregnancy symptoms, pregnant, swollen ankles