Medicines for carpal tunnel relief

There are two main types of medicines used for carpal tunnel treatment that can give you carpal tunnel pain relief.

The first type or group of drugs are called Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAID's for short (pronounced N-said).

This class of medicines is thought to block the inflammation process in our bodies and thus reduces pain and swelling etc...Some are sold over the counter (OTC) like Motrin, Advil, Aleve etc...Aspirin is also in this group. Tylenol is not, it is classified as a pain reliever only as it doesn't have any anti-inflammatory properties.

Other NSAID's are by prescription only, such as:

• Celebrex
• Mobic
• Daypro
• Motrin
• Lodine etc..

They are usually taken 1 to 3 times a day with food. They should not be taken by people who are allergic to them or who have ulcers or bleeding problems. Also within the last 2 or 3 years there has been some concern that people with known heart disease should not take these NSAIDs for fear that it may increase the chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Ongoing studies are being done.

Currently every NSAID sold whether it's OTC or RX has a black box warning on them saying that NSAIDs may cause an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes etc...and should not be used for more than 10 days unless upon the advice of a physician.

Some patients prefer to use Pain Relieving creams and gels because they go on topically (on the skin) and work right where you need them and they typically have less side effects on the body as a whole.

Keep in mind that there are risks and benefits to anything we do or any kind of treatment. Most people want to avoid carpal tunnel surgery because of the risks involved.

NSAID's are typically a mainstay of a conservative carpal tunnel treatment plan. Is it considered a carpal tunnel syndrome cure?

Of course not, but it may help give you some carpal tunnel pain relief.

The second type of medicine used for carpal tunnel treatment is the steroid group. (This is not the bodybuilding kind of steroids).

Similar to NSAIDs, this group of steroids reduces inflammation and pain in our bodies but by a different pathway.

There are 2 forms used, the pill form and the steroid injection form. Both forms of this medicine have shown to give good carpal tunnel relief.

Although not a medicine, but a very effective form of treatment, is wearing a Night splint; they have been shown to give good to excellent carpal tunnel symptom relief.

Read this University article:

Night-time splinting gives carpal tunnel pain relief.

Also click here for the only Night splints I recommend.

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