Everyday pain management ideas

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome is an overuse injury.  Common causes of the disorder involve repetitive fine motor movements: knitting, crochet, stitchery, computer usage, and video games, for example.  The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome occur because the median nerve, which runs through the small bones of the wrist, becomes compressed by swollen tendons and the ligament that occupy the same passage between the hand and the arm.  Over time, the overuse causes  inflammation and eventually leads to nerve damage. What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?   Early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include burning, itching, numbness and/or tingling in the palm, the  thumb and first fingers of the hand. It is not uncommon to experience the sensation of hand(s) "falling asleep" during the night. Eventually the symptoms progress and this sensation may occur at other times of day; the patient's grip strength may weaken. It i

Glucosamine is a nutritional supplement that has gained attention in recent years as a treatment for osteoarthritis.  This substance occurs naturally in the human body and is an ingredient used by the body for the production of cartilage.  There are numerous products in the marketplace that contain glucosamine; it may be available as tablet, liquid or powder.  Some products that contain glucosamine also contain chondroitin, which is another naturally occurring chemical that plays a role in formation of cartilage. As to whether or not taking glucosamine or glucosamine with chondroitin is actually of benefit-the answer is unclear.  This type of nutritional supplement does seem to help some people, but for others, the opposite is true.  In my opinion, it does not hurt to try one of these products if you have osteoarthritis, but if there is no perceived benefit after a few weeks' time, it probably is not worth continuing. A note of caution: do not use this product