Our hands and wrists are essential for countless daily tasks, but they are also prone to various conditions that can cause discomfort, pain, and even limit our ability to function. Below, we'll explore some of the most common hand and wrist conditions, providing you with a clear understanding of each issue, its causes, and practical, at-home solutions. These natural remedies can help alleviate symptoms and promote healing, offering relief without the need for invasive treatments. Whether you're dealing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De Quervain's Tenosynovitis, or another condition, you'll find valuable tips to support your recovery and enhance your hand health.

 

Explanation: 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve, which travels from the forearm into the palm through a narrow passageway called the carpal tunnel, becomes compressed. This leads to symptoms like numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand, especially in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. It often presents with discomfort during repetitive hand movements and is commonly worse at night.

 

Causes:

• Repetitive hand movements (e.g. typing, sewing)
• Wrist injuries or fractures
• Conditions that cause swelling, such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Fluid retention, often due to pregnancy or menopause

 

Natural Solutions:

Hand exercises: Regular finger stretching and nerve gliding exercises to relieve pressure.  Check out the video below for more details on the best exercises to do for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Night splinting:  Using a spoon to keep the wrist straight can reduce nighttime symptoms.  Sounds strange, I know, check out the video below and it wall all make sense, I hope 🤞 

Soaking hands:  In SOulSoak Bath Salts for 20 minutes to help reduce swelling and replenish deficient minerals.  Watch the video below or read more in the treatment section.

Trio of Creams: Apply the trio of creams to relieve pain and inflammation and to stimulate blood flow and lymphatic return.  More information on these three creams in the treatment section below.

Therapeutic Ultrasound:  Use in combination with the Trio of Creams for even deeper tissue healing.

Lymphatic drainage techniques: To reduce fluid build-up that contributes to symptoms.  A 4 in 1 TENS machine with the EMS function is perfect for this.  Check out more details in the treatment section, under the TENS machine tab below.

Explanation:

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, causing pain, especially when gripping or twisting the wrist. The condition often presents with pain during ulnar deviation (moving the wrist toward the pinky side), making daily activities like opening jars difficult.

 

Causes:

• Repetitive thumb motions (e.g., texting, playing video games)
• Direct injury to the wrist or tendons
• Inflammatory arthritis

 

Natural Solutions:

Rest and Ice: Limiting excessive movement of the wrist and thumb can prevent further damage to the tendon.  If resting can’t be achieved, strapping may be necessary to limit movement.  Applying ice, if you don’t have the therapeutic ultrasound, is an alternative way to bring the inflammation down in the tendon.

Chiropractic Adjustment: To adjust the wrist and elbow will help to normalise the tension of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons.  Dry needling will further enhance the recovery of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, by alleviating the pressure on these tendons mentioned above.

Vacuum Cupping: On the muscles on the thumb side of the forearm to assist in reducing the tension in the involved tendons, as well us the pinky side to normalise the balance between the two opposing muscles to prevent unnecessary stretch on the already inflamed tendon.

Trio of Creams: Apply all three creams to the thumb and forearm to decrease inflammation and tension in the muscles, tendons and fascia. 

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Use on the thumb side of the wrist (right where the pain is located).  This is where the tenosynovitis is located.   Used in conjunction with the Bone Aid Relief Cream and the Kirofix® Injury Relief Lotion is ideal in resolving this De  Quervain’s Tenosynovitis.  Remember to use the ultrasound after any other form of treatment, including cupping, massage or stretching to reduce all inflammation.

4 in 1 TENS machine: Using the TENS Mode on the 4 in 1 TENS machine over the site of pain can help to distract from the constant pain, while the body gets to work behind the scenes healing the inflamed tendon.

 

Explanation:

Trigger Finger occurs when the flexor tendon in a finger becomes inflamed, leading to difficulty bending or straightening the digit. The finger may lock in a bent position due to the tendon catching in its sheath. Over time, a nodule may form, which can be felt in the palm, further restricting movement.

 

Causes:

• Repetitive gripping activities
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetes
• Prolonged inflammation of the flexor tendon sheath

 

Natural Solutions:

Chiropractic Adjustment: To adjust the finger involved.  The sudden and repeated bending of the finger is likely to lead to subluxations that will need adjusting.  Chiro's that also use dry needling will further enhance the recovery of trigger finger by alleviating the tension in the muscles involved. 

Vacuum Cupping: On the wrist flexor and extensor muscles to relieve tension and restore muscular balance is important.  This can be done at home, using a premium vacuum cupping set, achieving the results much faster.

Trio of Creams: Apply all three creams to the finger, palm and forearm to reduce inflammation and tension in the muscles, tendons and fascia.  Increasing blood flow with Heativate® Injury Relief Lotion is also really important with resolving trigger finger.

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Use on the finger and palm to enhance healing.  If nodules are present the ultrasound, used in conjunction with the Bone Aid Relief Cream and the Kirofix® Injury Relief Lotion is ideal in resolving this condition.  Remember to use the ultrasound after any other form of treatment, including cupping, massage or stretching to reduce all inflammation.

4 in 1 TENS machine: Using the Russian Treatment Mode on the 4 in 1 TENS machine on the extensors of the wrist (muscles on the outside of the forearm) can be very helpful to fast track balancing these muscles and helping to eradicate trigger finger.

Stretching:  Spending time stretching the fingers and wrists can assist the muscles lengthening that needs to take place to alleviate trigger finger.  If you are using cupping, this will lengthen the muscles and break up muscular adhesions even more effectively than stretching, but doing the two as part of your at home treatment can work well together.

 

Explanation:

Numb Fingers can result from nerve compression, poor circulation, or underlying medical conditions. The numbness can be localised or widespread, depending on where the nerve compression occurs (e.g. at the neck, shoulder, elbow, or wrist). The location of the numbness helps to determine where the compression has occurred.  Nerve compression can occur in multiple places along the length of the nerve root and peripheral nerve.  Cervical (neck) disc issues tend to result in a dermatomal distribution of pain and numbness in the arm than if the peripheral nerve is being compressed under the armpit (see Thoracic Outlet Syndrome on the Shoulder Pain Page) or in the elbow (see Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on the Elbow Pain page) or in the wrist (see Carpal Tunnel Syndrome above). 

 

Causes:

• Nerve compression (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome)
• Poor circulation
• Lymphatic drainage issues
• Cervical disc issues

 

Natural Solutions:

Chiropractic Adjustment: To eliminate the source of the nerve compression.  Whether it is a neck, shoulder, elbow or wrist subluxation, a comprehensive Chiro adjustment will get to the bottom of it.  Chiro's that also work on soft tissue, using dry needling or cupping, is preferred. As this not only enhances the chances of the adjustment holding, it also assists in eliminating excess lymphatic fluid that might be contributing to the numbness as well.

Vacuum Cupping: Place the cups on the neck, shoulder, chest and forearm to relieve the muscle tension that contributes to the subluxations that can cause nerve compression and numbness in the hands and fingers.  Including the muscles in the neck, chest and shoulders is important, as often these are the areas that have been neglected in unsuccessful treatments and hold the missing piece of the health puzzle. 

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Use on the area of nerve compression with Kirofix® Injury Relief Lotion and Bone Aid Relief Cream for maximum results.  The area of numbness is often not the area that requires the ultrasounding, the site of nerve compression will give far greater results, so try the neck, front of the shoulder and elbow and enjoy the results.

Finger exercises and stretches: To improve nerve function and circulation.

Acupressure Mat: Lay on it that acupressure mat on your back, chest and side to enhance circulation to the hands.  You can even lean on the mat directly with your hands to encourage blood flow all the way down to your fingertips.

Lymphatic support: Implement lymphatic drainage techniques to reduce fluid build-up.  This could be lymphatic massage, laying on the acupressure mat to eliminate excess fluid (for details on how to do this, check out the treatment section below), using the TENS machine on the EMS setting (as described in the treatment section below).  Taking the PlantEm Essentials CleanEm Detox powder will further enhance the clearing out of excess fluid and toxins from your body.

Explanation:

Dupuytren's Contracture is a condition where the connective tissue in the palm thickens, leading to the gradual bending of one or more fingers. It starts with nodules or tissue thickening in the palm, eventually making it difficult to straighten the fingers.  

 

Causes:

• Genetic predisposition
• Diabetes
• Alcoholism
• Smoking

 

Natural Solutions:

SOulSoak Bath Salts:  Soak for 20 minutes in SOulSoak bath salts to increase blood flow, relieve stiffness, improve flexibility, and to replenish the micro-elements and minerals that are depleted with long standing conditions like Depuytren's contracture.

TRIO of Creams: Apply to the palm and forearm to provide the necessary building blocks and blood flow necessary for healing.

Therapeutic Ultrasound: A very necessary part of the healing process for Depuytren's contracture.  Use in conjunction with the creams, the ultrasound helps to free up the tendon and improve flexibility.  This is exactly what Dr Kez would use in clinical practice to treat Depuytren's Contracture. 

Vacuum Cupping: On the forearm to relieve tension in wrist flexor muscles.  These are the muscles that tighten in Depuytren's Contracture.  This will alleviate the tightness of the muscles and the fascia, as well as elongating the muscles to reduce the contracture.

Explanation:

Arthritis affects the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. The most common types are Osteoarthritis (OA), due to wear and tear, and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), an autoimmune condition that often affects both sides of the body symmetrically.  If you are interested in finding our more about the different types of arthritis, check out our blog HERE.

 

Causes:

• Wear and tear (Osteoarthritis)
• Autoimmune response (Rheumatoid Arthritis)
• Previous injuries
• Obesity

 

Natural Solutions:

SOulSoak Bath Salts: Soak for 20 minutes in SOulSoak bath salts to increase blood flow and relieve stiffness and to replenish the micro-elements and minerals that are depleted with long standing conditions like arthritis.  Watch the video below for a demonstration.

TRIO of Creams: Apply to address both the bone and soft tissue aspects of arthritis, getting to the root cause, as well a decreasing pain and increasing blood flow for faster healing.

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Combine with the trio of creams to reduce inflammation and speed up healing.  For a full explanation of how to layer the creams when using the ultrasound, scroll down to the treatment section.

Vacuum Cupping: On forearm muscles to prevent tightness of the wrist and finger flexor and extensor muscles.  Tight muscles jam the bone of the joints together, making arthritis worse and leading to the development of arthritis in the first place.  Relieving tight muscles with allow the joints to gap and heal more effectively. 

4 in 1 TENS machine: If the pain of arthritis is getting you down, grab a set of TENS gloves and attach them to your 4 in 1 TENS machine and select the TENS setting, and watch the pain melt away.

Explanation:

Ganglion Cysts are noncancerous lumps filled with synovial joint fluid that usually develop along the tendons or joints of the wrist or hand. A ganglion cyst more commonly occurs at the back of the wrist, but can occur at the front as well. These cysts can vary in size and often arise due to repetitive wrist motions.

 

Causes:

• Repetitive wrist movements
• Joint or tendon injuries
• Arthritis

 

Natural Solutions:

Rest: Prevent further aggravation of the cyst by not flexing and extending the wrist

Chiro Adjustment: A precisely directed adjustment can send the synovial fluid back into the joint, eliminating the ganglion completely.  A significant step up from the old wives tail of whacking the ganglion with a bible. Rigid strapping is usually applied immediately post adjustment to prevent the ganglion forming again, giving it a chance to heal.

Trio of Creams: Apply the trio of creams to relieve pain and inflammation.

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Apply the Kirofix® Injury Relief Lotion and Bone Aid Relief Cream from the above-mentioned trio of creams to the skin, followed by the ultrasound gel, and use the ultrasound for a few minutes over the site of the ganglion to speed up the healing of the tendon that the synovial fluid forced its way through.

Wrap-On-Ice Pack: Apply to the injured area for compression and to reduce swelling. 

Sprains occur when ligaments that connect bones in a joint are stretched or torn, while strains refer to the overstretching or tearing of muscles or tendons. These injuries can result from sudden twisting motions, falls, or repetitive movements, causing pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. The body is very capable of healing both sprains and strains effectively, we just need to limit the aggravation of these damaged structures while the body does its magic.  Natural solutions below will highlight how to fast track healing and help speed up the process of healing of sprains and strains.

Causes:

• Sudden twisting or impact
• Overuse or repetitive motion
• Direct trauma
• Poor conditioning

Natural Solutions:

Rest: Allow the injured area to heal by avoiding strain.

Trio of Creams: Apply the trio of creams to relieve pain and inflammation and to stimulate blood flow and lymphatic return.  The trio of creams provides the body with the building blocks it requires for healing the soft tissue damage that occurs with a spained ligament or strained tendon or muscles.  More information on these three creams in the treatment section below.

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Apply the Kirofix® Injury Relief Lotion and Bone Aid Relief Cream from the above mentioned trio of creams to the skin, followed by the ultrasound gel, and use the ultrasound for a few minutes over the sprained or strained tissues, to speed up the healing process.

Wrap-On-Ice Pack: Apply to the injured area for compression and to reduce swelling.  If you have the Therapeutic ultrasound, you are unlikely to need to do this, as the ultrasound will reduce the swelling significantly, as well as initiating healing.

Elevation: In the initial phases of a sprain or strain injury, there can be a lot of swelling.  Keep the affected limb above the heart to aid in reducing this swelling and see below if the swelling is significant.

4 in 1 TENS machine: If the swelling is significant, use the 4 in 1 TENS machine on the EMS setting to rapidly and effectively reduce the swelling.  How to do this is described below in the treatment options section.

Circulation is key to healing.  The body is very capable of healing itself, provided it has the right building blocks and adequate blood flow to get those building blocks to the exact location where healing is required.  To enhance circulation dramatically we turn to the Acupressure Mat.  This spikey wonder demands blood flow to wherever it touches.    Lying on your chest on the Acupressure Mat will help to increase the blood flow in and out of your arms.  You can also lay on your back with the mat on your chest, facing upwards, with your arms across the mat, enjoying the Spikey experience, to further encourage blood flow down into your arms.  Leaning with your palms directly on the mat is another way to get the blood flowing all the way down to your fingertips.  Give it a try! 

If, on the other hand (pun intended!), excess fluid in your body is to blame for the altered sensation in your hands and fingers, nurturing your lymphatic system is called for.  Check out our blog on how to eliminate excess fluid from the body naturally HERE. 

Prepare to indulge your hands in a rejuvenating treatment that feels like a spa experience. Start with a soothing soak in warm SOulSoak Magnesium salts, designed to enhance blood circulation, nourish tissues, and promote flexibility. As your hand bathes in the warmth, over 80 essential elements and minerals are absorbed through your skin, providing vital nourishment.

Follow this with gentle stretching exercises (see video above under arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome) to help loosen tight connective tissues and encourage the healing process. Regular stretching and strengthening exercises are key to improving flexibility, reducing stiffness, and alleviating symptoms.

Extra tip: For personalised guidance, consider consulting a physical therapist, such as a chiropractor, osteopath, or physiotherapist, who can tailor exercises to your specific condition.

Should I See A Chiro For Wrist, Hand And Finger Pain? 

Remember, while these at-home treatments and tools are effective for many, persistent or challenging symptoms warrant the expertise of a healthcare professional.

At Life Balance Adjustments, we bring a comprehensive approach to clinical care, employing advanced techniques such as dry needling, gentle chiropractic adjustments, and all over holistic care. Dry needling targets specific trigger points, releasing lactic acid trapped in muscles to normalize tension and provide relief, helping to rectify the current ailment and prevent future reoccurrence. Chiropractic adjustments ensure your joints are aligned for optimal performance.

Embrace a holistic approach that considers your entire body, not just the affected areas.  With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr Kez at Life Balance Adjustments has the expertise to provide comprehensive care, ensuring every aspect of your wrist, hand, and finger ailments is addressed. Schedule a consultation today and find the missing piece to your recovery.

Click the image above to book a Telehealth or in-clinic appointment at Life Balance Adjustments with Dr Kez.

In conclusion, these conditions affecting the wrist, hand, and fingers can often be managed effectively at home with the right tools and approaches. Incorporating a consistent routine of treatments like therapeutic ultrasound, cupping, soaking in SOulSoak bath salts, and gentle stretching can significantly enhance your recovery process. Remember, healing is a journey, and your dedication to these practices can make a substantial difference. However, if your symptoms persist or resist improvement, it may be beneficial to book an appointment for a tailored treatment plan to address your specific needs.