I'm sure the thought has crossed your mind once or twice after a long day of working in the yard or a big project at the office. Your wrists are aching and you think that you might be developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Don't jump on that bus just yet! Sometimes the muscles are tight in your forearms that press down on those nerves. If you can relax those muscles, the nerves are happier and the pain subsides. So here's what you can do to help yourself fight CTS.

CTS is generally brought on by repetitive actions. People who do the same motions day after day are more prone than those of you who had a busy week on the computer. The carpal tunnel is an actual tunnel in your wrist where the radial nerve runs through to get from your arm to your hand. When the muscles in the arm/wrist/hand get to stresses they push the nerve up against to tunnel, causing pain and numbness. You can even lose strength in your hand.

So how can you help yourself fight CTS? The best you can do is change up your routine. If you do most of your work with your right hand, try to alternate with your left. This not only helps break up the monotony, it also wakes your brain up. Using your non-dominate hand makes you pay more attention to what you are doing. So it's a two for the price of one tip!

Getting a massage ( from me of course!) is great for combating muscle strain, but you can give yourself a mini massage every day to keep your hands moving. Make a fist and use your knuckles to apply pressure to the muscles of your forearms. You might not know your own strength so DON'T PUSH TOO HARD. If you look at your arm and can see faint red streaks along your arms, that's a good pressure. You want to focus on the inside part of your arm, those are the muscles that are the trouble makers.

So, change up your work routine, give your arms a little massage and be sure to take little breaks throughout your day to rest and move. It will keep you from getting stiff and achy. You'll be glad you did!