How to deal with tingling in the arms and fingers during pregnancy & bull; hello healthy

Numbness or tingling in the arms and fingers is caused by the presence carpal tunnel symptoms (CTS) or carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel is a small tunnel along the wrist to the lower palm. In the carpal tunnel there is the median nerve which functions to convey the sensation of taste or touch and control the movement of the fingers. The pinched median nerve due to swelling and weight gain in pregnant women can trigger numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle finger, and some ring fingers.

Fortunately, the tingling sensation that is usually experienced by pregnant women is still at a reasonable level. In general, this disorder begins to appear when the pregnancy is in the fifth and sixth months or the last few months before delivery.

To relieve numbness or tingling, you can try a few simple steps as follows:

• Apply a cold compress to the area that is experiencing numbness or tingling to reduce swelling and pain. Avoid hot compresses, which can make the swelling worse.
• Massage or soak your hands in a bowl of water with a few drops of herbal extracts, such as olive oil, chamomile oil, lavender extract or coconut extract. Apart from relieving numbness and tingling, herbal extracts also relax the body.
• Do light exercise with a trained instructor. Even without an instructor, you can still exercise yourself at home by doing a few light daily movements. Treatment chiropractic on the wrist may be suggested in some cases.

Here are two kinds of light exercises to prevent numbness or tingling:

Turn shoulders

Purpose: To strengthen the back muscles, relieve upper back pain, and reduce the sensation of numbness or tingling in the arms and fingers.

1. Relax your arms and lift your shoulders toward your ears.
2. Utar the shoulders back as much as possible.
3. Relax your shoulders and return to the starting position.

Lie on one side

1. Always try to lie on your side every time you sleep or rest.
2. Pinch the pillow with both knees to minimize strain on the lower back.
3. Avoid using your hands as a substitute for pillows while sleeping. Symptoms carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) usually gets worse at night.
4. Change sleeping positions whenever you feel pain. Try to shake your hand until the pain or numbness subsides.

If possible, avoid jobs that require the arm to repeat the same motion over a long period of time. The reason is, this movement can worsen numbness or tingling.

Try sitting with your hands raised, for example watching television with your hands on the back of the sofa.

Vitamin B6 supplements can help relieve symptoms, but you should still prioritize balanced nutritional intake over artificial supplements. Make sure you discuss with your doctor before taking supplements during pregnancy.

If the pain gets worse, your doctor may prescribe a mild painkiller. The numbness and swelling will usually fade away after the baby is born. Contact your doctor immediately if the pain persists.

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