How good are hot tubs for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? You’ll want to know!
October 20, 2017 – If you’re up to your neck in wrist pain, there’s relief to be had and you’ll find it in a Hot Spring Spa.
Clutching a mouse and banging a keyboard are today’s gateways to shopping, entertainment, and socializing. Sure, you’re saving wear and tear on your tires and the soles of your shoes, but at what price? Your wrist…and your risk of developing carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS). The pain can be excruciating and the symptoms are familiar to many; tingling, burning, or numbness in the fingers. A shooting pain in the arm brought on by the stress of repetitive-motion, and the effect it has on the nerves and tendons where wrist meets hand. When those overworked tendons push that nerve into your wrist bone, watch out. It can hurt like you-know-what. To begin with, the symptoms can mimic tendonitis. If you change positions, rest more often, and improve your posture, you can work around the problem. But ultimately, if you continue to abuse your wrists, scar tissue builds up, requiring surgery. These two stages of decline can be mitigated by soaking in a hot tub.
When CTS is mild to moderate:
Hot water can offer relief to someone with CTS. In hot water, muscles and tendons relax and release fluids that can reduce the swelling in tendons. In 2009 The Clinical Journal of Pain featured a study showing that when soaking in a hot tub is alternated with cold compresses, it can help to relieve CTS pain as well as corticosteroids, which are the common medical treatment. In addition, hot tub therapy helped improve motor function, and the ability to sleep through the night.
In cases of advanced or fresh CTS:
In these instances it’s best to begin with cold compresses and anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen, since heat can cause swelling. After a few hours long-term relief can be achieved by soaking in a hot tub.
CTS is a medical condition. Before you try any remedy check with your doctor. If you’re fortunate enough to not have CTS, you can still benefit from your hot tub in so many healthy ways. At the very least it will take you away from your keyboard, and offer you an exquisite and relaxing soak!
