Why is Carpal Tunnel Worse at Night?
Carpal tunnel is a condition that affects the hand and wrist. The main symptom is pain, which is worse at night. Other symptoms include tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hand and fingers.
The cause of carpal tunnel is unknown, but it is thought to be related to repetitive motions of the wrist and hand.
Interesting Fact: It is more common in women than men, and often occurs during pregnancy.
Why is it worst at night?
The pain of carpal tunnel is often worse at night because the position of your hand during sleep puts pressure on the median nerve.
This nerve runs through the carpal tunnel, a small space in your wrist. The pressure on the nerve causes pain, tingling, and numbness in your hand and fingers.
It also doesn't help that we aren't moving when we sleep. This allows for more fluid build-up which leads to even more pressure on the median nerve.
Who experiences carpal tunnel?
Carpal tunnel is a common condition, affecting about 3% of adults. It is more common in women than men and often occurs during pregnancy.
Best practices for relief
If you are experiencing carpal tunnel, there are some things you can do to find relief.
First, try to avoid the activities that trigger your symptoms. If possible, take breaks throughout the day to give your hands a rest.
You can also try wearing a splint or compression at night to keep your wrist in a neutral position. This will help relieve the pressure on the median nerve, and compression will lessen fluid build-up.
If these conservative measures don't work, you may need to see a doctor for further treatment. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve the pressure on the median nerve.
Try this before surgery
We know surgery is not usually your first choice, or perhaps you have more mild symptoms.
In that case, we highly recommend trying out the splint or compression gloves.
At Onecompress we recently developed new compression gloves made from our brand new bamboo compression material.
They are specifically designed to be the most comfortable compression gloves on the market, which makes them perfect for use during the night.
You can check them out here: PREMIUM ONECOMPRESS GLOVES
Alternatively, if you're experiencing more pain in your wrist, we highly suggest you check out our Adjustable 4D wrist sleeve
We hope you find a solution that works for you.