Do you often feel sore hands during pregnancy, tingling, or even numbness? It could be a symptom carpal tunnel syndrome, Bun. Although generally harmless, this condition can cause discomfort. Come on, get to know more about this condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in pregnant women can occur due to fluid buildup in the wrist tissue. This swelling will then press on the nerves in the wrist, causing various symptoms of CTS.
Symptoms of CTS are usually more pronounced when you wake up in the morning, especially when your arms are bent at night.
Carpal tunnel syndrome It usually occurs in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. In addition to pain, CTS is also often characterized by weakness of the hand muscles, so that the grip of the hand is weakened and the fingers are difficult to move. Usually, this occurs on the hand that is used frequently as well as on the middle and index fingers.
Are Pregnant Women More At Risk?
CTS can happen to everyone, but pregnant women are more at risk, because the amount of blood and fluids in the body will increase during pregnancy. Several factors can increase the risk carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnant women are:
- Have family members who have experienced CTS, for example parents
- Have you ever had a wrist injury?
- Have excess weight
- Have high blood pressure
- Experiencing CTS in a previous pregnancy
Symptom carpal tunnel syndrome In pregnant women, it generally disappears after delivery, precisely as the loss of body fluid buildup and hormone levels return to normal. However, in some cases, these symptoms can also last up to 1 year after the birth of the baby.
How to overcome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome During Pregnancy
If symptoms carpal tunnel syndrome If you feel it is not severe, your doctor may suggest non-surgical treatment. Ways to deal with CTS during pregnancy include:
1. Use Device
Using a wrist support at night can help you reduce complaints due to the position of your hands during sleep which may pinch the wrist nerves.
The doctor may recommend some assistive devices, such as splints or braces wrist brace. If typing is your daily activity, try placing the pads in front of you keyboard to support the wrist.
2. Take a short break when doing repetitive activities
Mother often take a break from repetitive wrist activities and stretch.
To do this, clench your fingers and bend your wrist inward. After that, straighten your fingers and point your wrists outwards. Repeat this movement 10 times, at least once a day.
3. Hand compress with ice cubes
Compressing the wrist with ice cubes wrapped in a cloth for 10 minutes can relieve pain due to CTS in pregnant women. In addition, you can also soak your hands in cold water and warm water for 1 minute alternately. Do this for about 5-6 minutes.
4. Do yoga
A study shows that yoga is proven to reduce pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome and improve hand grip strength in sufferers. Not only that, yoga can also be a sport during pregnancy which is very good for your overall health.
In addition to what has been described above, you can ask your partner or family member to massage your hands, wrists, to the shoulders, neck, and upper back. You may also consider acupuncture, reflexology, or aromatherapy to relieve CTS symptoms during pregnancy.
Preventing Tips Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to pregnant women
Sick hands during pregnancy will certainly be very uncomfortable for the mother. Therefore, it is better for you to take preventive steps to avoid CTS during pregnancy, especially if you are at a higher risk.
The following are some ways to prevent CTS that you can do:
Eating nutritious food
Eating a healthy diet with balanced nutrition can prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy. In addition, meet the needs of vegetables and fruit to at least 5 servings a day to get the intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can prevent inflammation.
Limit salt consumption
Mothers are advised to limit the intake of sugar, salt and fat during pregnancy. This is very useful for reducing the buildup of body fluids, so the risk of pinched wrist nerves will also decrease.
Wearing a special pregnancy bra
As odd as it sounds, it does have an effect, you know, Bun. Pregnancy bras can reduce pressure on the sternum and ribs. It can also indirectly reduce pressure on the nerves in the wrist that starts from the shoulder area.
Now, now Mother knows in more detail about complaints of sore hands during pregnancy caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Mothers can do the methods described to prevent or treat CTS complaints at home.
However, if symptoms carpal tunnel syndrome Mother has not subsided or is even more disturbing, immediately consult a doctor for further treatment so that CTS does not get worse.
