Do you experience sharp pain in your wrist and forearm at night? It might be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). CTS is a condition that causes numbness, tingling, or pain due to pressure on the median nerve. This nerve runs from the forearm into the hand, controlling movement and feeling in some fingers. The most common symptom of CTS is a burning sensation or pins and needles feeling in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger.

It may come as a surprise when you are experiencing CTS symptoms at night. After all, you weren’t doing anything to cause the pain! The answer lies in your body position when sleeping. We will explain why CTS worsens at night and how to find relief.

What Is CTS: Causes and Symptoms

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) commonly affects wrists and hands. It occurs when one of the primary nerves in hand, known as the median nerve, becomes compressed or squeezed from too much pressure in the carpal tunnel area. This pressure can be caused by an injury, certain health conditions, repetitive wrist motions, pregnancy, or even an anatomical issue with the tunnel’s size.

Symptoms of CTS include tingling and numbness in hand and fingers, especially when gripping objects; pain that radiates from your wrist to your arm; difficulty holding or grasping items; and weak grip strength. For example, when trying to open a jar, you may experience tingling and even drop it.

Why Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Feel Worse at Night?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition caused by median nerve compression as it passes through the wrist joint. This can cause tingling, numbness, and pain in your hand and fingers. Symptoms of this painful condition usually worsen at night, disrupting sleep.

1) Swelling: The carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway of ligaments and bones at the base of your palm, can become swollen due to repetitive motions or other conditions like arthritis. This swelling places extra pressure on the median nerve, which can be exacerbated by lying at night.

2) Posture: A typical posture while sleeping is flexing the wrists. This can increase pressure on the median nerve and aggravate symptoms of CTS.

3) Reduced Blood Flow: Poor circulation in your hands at night can reduce blood flow, making symptoms worse than during the day when you’re more active and your body is better circulated.

4) Stress & Anxiety: Stress and anxiety can worsen CTS symptoms. Certain hormones released in response to stress can cause inflammation, which increases the pressure on the median nerve.

Tips To Reduce Carpal Tunnel Pain at Night

Consider using ergonomic equipment for the day: If you have a job requiring repetitive motions, think about using wrist help or splints to alleviate stress on your carpal tunnel. Investing in ergonomic equipment such as laptop keyboards can additionally assist in limiting the stress on your wrists.

Practice rest techniques: Yoga and different rest strategies can assist decrease in stress levels, which may additionally decrease the severity of your carpal tunnel pain. Yoga poses that contain stretching your wrists can also relieve symptoms.

Elevate your palms while sleeping: To decrease swelling and stress on the nerve, strive to elevate your wrists and fingers while sleeping. You can do this by setting a pillow or cushion below your wrists.

Take a warm bath earlier than bedtime: A warm bath earlier than nighttime can loosen up the muscle mass in the wrist area, limiting aches and discomfort.

Check With a Chiropractor: A chiropractor can determine your posture and furnish to minimize the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Call Life Giving for carpal tunnel relief in Roswell. We provide a range of remedies that can assist you in limiting the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome pain and enhance your life. Contact us to discover more!