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8 Products for Carpal Tunnel Relief You Can Buy on Amazon
Updated: Mar. 30, 2022
Numbness and tingling in the wrists may signal carpal tunnel syndrome. Here are some expert-recommended products for carpal tunnel relief that you can buy on Amazon.
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Here’s why your wrist hurts
Working from home has become the new normal for many people over the past few months. Living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens have turned into makeshift home offices with often limited attention to desk ergonomics.
As a result, many people are starting to feel its physical effects, ranging from digital eye strain to numbing, tingling wrist pain, called carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome refers to the signs and symptoms associated with the compression of a nerve that runs through the wrist, explains Cameron Yuen, a physical therapist at Bespoke Treatments Physical Therapy in New York City.
“Patients will commonly experience pain and sensation changes along the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger, and occasionally weakness in the same distribution,” Yuen says. “The actual nerve that is compressed is the median nerve, and it gets compressed for multiple reasons, but wrist positioning can play a major role in symptoms.”
Once the nerve is sensitized or wound up, it takes less and less for it to become irritated.
Why does carpal tunnel happen? When you’re typing away at your computer all day, your wrists should be in an ideal, neutral position with the elbow at an angle of about 90 degrees. Your wrists should be straight, not bent, and not resting on your keyboard or another surface.
If your wrists are much higher or lower than your keyboard and mouse, then you’re constantly flexing and compressing your wrists, which closes down the carpal tunnel, reducing blood flow to the nerve, and increasing compression sensitivity. (Here’s how to alleviate wrist pain.)
“There are genetic, structural, and lifestyle factors that play a role in this compression, but overuse, especially with typing, is usually the main culprit,” explains Yuen. “Anything that causes a narrowing in the carpal tunnel will also contribute to symptoms, so, swelling, cysts, and osteoarthritis can also increase pain.”
What can you do for carpal tunnel relief?
Luckily, there are some things you can do to try to alleviate and fix the issue. ” To relieve the existing pain and sensation changes, you want to reduce inflammation,” explains Yuen. “Obviously, you will want to consult your health care provider first, but over-the-counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are a good place to start and can really help with symptoms.” Try these carpal tunnel stretches for relief, too.
Yuen also suggests incorporating an anti-inflammatory diet, which means less sugar and fewer overly processed foods.
If carpal tunnel goes untreated, over time, you can also start seeing atrophy of the muscles of the hand, especially at the base of the thumb, loss of hand dexterity and grip strength, and more pain traveling up the forearm.
“If you’re experiencing signs and symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, you should see a health care professional,” says Yuen. “There are other conditions that cause similar symptoms, so it is important to get a definitive diagnosis, especially when it is related to a nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome can really interfere with life, so it’s better to address it as soon as possible.”
If you’re not able to get to a doctor or medical professional immediately, here are some expert-recommended products for carpal tunnel relief that you can find on Amazon.
GPG2 ESC Flip Computer Keyboard and Laptop Stand
$19
“To relieve carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s important to address the root cause,” says Yuen. “For most, this will be prolonged compression. So finding an ideal keyboard height is step one.”
This GPG2 ESC keyboard stand can help. Choose from three different angle adjustments to find the correct one for your wrist comfort. “The goal is to keep the wrist from deviating out of neutral when working,” says Yuen. “Long term, this is the path forward.” (Don’t ignore these pain symptoms.)
ComfyBrace Night Wrist Sleep Support Brace
$28
With over 11,000 reviews and a four-and-a-half out of five-star rating, this ComfyBrace night wrist brace can be a good choice for carpal tunnel relief. Adjust the hook and loop closures for a personalized fit that feels supportive yet not restrictive.
“You will be wearing the brace a lot, so you want to make sure it’s comfortable and well fitted,” says Yuen. “If the brace is too big or too small, or compresses other areas, you will be less likely to wear it, or it won’t help even if you do wear it.”
The material is breathable, making it perfect for overnight wear, and it can fit on both the right or left hand, depending on which is bothering you. (Try these home remedies for arthritis pain relief.)
Copper Compression Gloves
$20
Add some gloves as a part of your work-from-home outfit for carpal tunnel relief. This pair of Copper compression gloves provides compression that will help your wrists stay comfortable while you type on your keyboard.
“Most braces will have slight compression, which seems counterintuitive, but when you keep your wrist in neutral, this slight compression can actually help with swelling,” says Yuen. (Here’s what you need to know about compression socks for your legs and feet.)
MyCare Heat Therapy Glove
$20
Place this MyCare glove in the microwave for one to two minutes to get it nice and warm before placing it on your hand. The heat therapy will provide your muscles and joints with relief, from fingertips to the bottom of your wrist. It’s lightweight and easy to take with you if you’re traveling.
ACE Deluxe Wrist Stabilizer
$17
Keeping your wrist in a supported, stable, and neutral alignment is important to minimize any aches and pains. Wrap this ACE brace around your wrist to do just that.
There’s memory foam in the palm, making it comfy to wear all day long, and it comes farther down your forearm for maximum stability. (Does your lower back hurt? Try these back massagers for relief.)
Dr. Arthritis Premium Copper Lined Wrist Support
$13
You don’t have to worry about this Dr. Arthritis wrist support shifting around and ultimately becoming a menace or uncomfortable to wear.
The secure, non-slip wrist wrap system ensures that wherever you secure this product on your hand, it will stay in place. Your fingers aren’t restricted, so you can move them freely to type or write. (Try these stretching exercises for stress relief.)
The Coldest Water Wrist Ice Pack
$18
When all you want is some relief, a little ice can go a long way. Ice will help to decrease inflammation caused by carpal tunnel. Keep this The Coldest Water ice pack in the freezer, pull it out, and wrap it around your wrist.
The flexibility allows you to maneuver it to hit the areas where you need relief most. (Find out when you should use ice for pain.)
CushionCare Keyboard Wrist Rest Pad
$17
The CushionCare keyboard wrist rest pad provides both a wrist rest to place behind your keyboard, as well as a mouse pad with a wrist rest. This allows your wrists to always be in the best ergonomic position in your home office setup.
“A wrist support rest will also help keep your wrist in a more neutral range, further decreasing the compressing of the wrist, which is what leads to the pain to begin with,” says Yuen.
- Cameron Yuen, PT, DPT, CSCS, physical therapist at Bespoke Treatments Physical Therapy in New York City
Medically reviewed by Originally Published: October 02, 2020
