You can perform stretching exercises and sufficient rest breaks especially if you're doing work that involves using your hands and wrists for prolonged periods of time or activities involving repetitive movement of the hands and wrist.

You can also try to stabilize your wrist by using a supportive hand and wrist splint while you work. Also make sure that you are in the proper position and posture with whatever you are doing as much as possible, including maintaining the neutral position of the wrist when you can, avoiding extreme positioning unless absolutely necessary.

You can also make use of the now easily available ergonomic designs for that tools that you use at home and at work to help preserve the integrity of your bodily structures (eg. a mouse pad with a gel cushion to support the wrist when using the computer).

Rotate chores and tasks often so that the recovery and regeneration of the involved body parts, in this case your hands and wrist, can be maximized, slowing down wear and tear and preventing micro-injuries and the possible minor inflammation stemming from overuse.

For some vulnerable people, even a very slight swelling in the wrist area can already produce symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you are one who is predisposed to this condition, becoming aware of what what brings this about will be the single foremost important method of prevention.

Water-retention, immune response during times of stress and illness, diabetes, obesity, genetics (eg. size of the tunnel, thickness and thickening of the fascial structures, nerve tissue sensitivity, inflammatory response, etc.), hypothyroidism, pregnancy, environmental factors, among others, have been implicated as possibly causing or contributing to carpal tunnel syndrome. Sleep positions where the hands are flexed over long periods of time have also been implicated to cause or worsen symptoms.

Some of my patients with carpal tunnel syndrome feel that the application of gentle heat on the area (such as when applying warm water bottles or wearing comfortable gloves) offers some relief when symptoms occur, thus preventing disruption of chores, tasks, and duties that need to be accomplished.

From my experience and knowledge, maintainance of healthy habits and lifestyles have been very helpful in preventing symptoms for those who have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Try to have balanced nutrition, do appropriate aerobic, flexibility and strengthening excercises regularly, maintain a healthy weight, maintain a strong immune system, have adequate sleep, rest periods, recreation and stress management. From my perspective and direct experience, the above recommendations are very useful in managing many conditions, including the management of symptoms in carpal tunnel syndrome.

It is important to always check with your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you constantly exprience symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment is important in this case, to avoid permanent damage to the median nerve, which is the nerve that is compressed in carpal tunnel syndrome. Some may even need surgery to correct the problem. Let us hope that you don't have to go through surgery. As a physical therapist and a holistic healer, I always prefer the conservative approach rather than the aggresive approach if it can be helped.

I'm reminded of the Cliché "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This is indeed quite relevant based on my own experiences with myself, my patients, and many other people I know. It's refreshing to see a question here asking about prevention instead of just a cure.

-------------------------

If you have resonated with the information I have provided above and would like to ask further relevant and related questions, kindly contact me using the information that DoctorBase has provided here on this site, or you may use my contact form at my website, The Infinite Mother Holistic and Intuitive Healing Arts Center, found at this link infinitemotherhealing.com/contact.php

Stay informed. Be well. Live life to the fullest.