Let me start off by explaining what Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is exactly. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is when a nerve innervating (has control of) the hand becomes trapped or inflamed. When entrapment or inflammation of a nerve innervating the hand occurs it can cause symptoms of numbness, tingling, and weakness in that hand.

The generalized conception about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is it only occurs at the wrist. This is true for the most part but, it can actually occur in three other spots as well. If you're only treating the wrist and not getting results, then odds are you need to look elsewhere. Where else you might ask?

We need to look at the bigger picture. Where do the nerves to the hand start? If you answered the neck then you're right! It's possible there could be an issue at the neck causing the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. As you follow the nerve, the next possibility is at the shoulder, then to the elbow, and finally to the wrist again.
Many doctors and physical therapist over look the trail the nerve must travel in order to get the hand. If you only had your wrist treated without luck, don't give up hope just yet. What you need to do is treat the other possibilities. How?

Stretching, stretching, stretching and again I say stretching. Why is stretching so affective? The biggest reason anyone is experiencing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is because the nerve is under tension. What stretching does is causing the nerve to get stretched/pull back into its original place relieving tension. Look at surgery for instance (not my recommendation) they go in and cut out excess tissue that is causing tension on the nerve.

Stretching isn't the only way to go about treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I have also had good results with distraction of the joint. Let me elaborate on what I mean by distraction. It is no different than when you jam your finger and all you do is pull on it. Of course there are tricks and tips to proper distraction but I'm sure you get the gist of it.

Knowing when to brace is also very key to relieving the symptoms. Many doctors will give you a brace and say I want you to wear this for 2 weeks or for such and such amount of time. I personally don't think this is a great idea. The key to proper bracing is putting it on when you know you're going to perform a task or activity which causes the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to flare up. Why shouldn't you wear a brace the whole time? Joints were designed to do one thing, move! Allowing joints to move can actually take out some of the inflammation occurring. Not only that, but joints need to move because this is how they get their nutrients to support normal join function.

I know Carpal Tunnel Syndrome isn't an easy thing to live with everyday. I just want you to know there are other options out there besides surgery. Surgery should always be a last resort because once you go under the knife there is no changing the outcome.