Is there any problem with taking anti-inflammatory medicine or NSAID's for carpal tunnel pain? After all, that is very common advice given by doctors and other medical sources to people who have pain and swelling in or around their wrist area.

Your doctor may suggest that you take anti-inflammatories or NSAID's for your CTS. They are supposed to reduce swelling and thereby pain. Why isn't it a good idea?

NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID's) are medications which reduce swelling in soft tissues and muscles. If swelling is the actual cause of your carpal tunnel symptoms then, theoretically, reducing it will lessen your symptoms. (Note: But there are several possible causes for pain and discomfort in your hand, arm and wrist and swelling is not always involved.)

Now remember: I'm not a doctor--I'm just acting as a reporter--with opinions, too! And my job as a pain relief coach is to help you get rid of your pain, numbness and tingling symptoms naturally.

Here's how your body works:

Every cell in your body has a certain job. One of these cells is called a macrophage. The job of your macrophage cells is to be the "firemen" for your body. When there is a "fire" (swelling or inflammation in the tissues) the macrophage cells rush to the scene to "put out the fire"." They carry away the foreign matter that is causing the inflammation and help you heal naturally. That's what they are supposed to do.

But when you take NSAID's they interfere with your macrophage cells' ability to put out the fire. The medicine puts up a barrier. The macrophage cells don't get the message that there is a fire and so they stay at the fire station instead of going out and doing their job.

A natural alternative to taking medication to reduce swelling is to use ice massage for your whole lower arm from your elbow to your hand to reduce inflammation. If swelling is causing your carpal tunnel pain, ice will help reduce the swelling and that will relieve your symptoms.

In a nut shell, ice massage is performed by rapidly moving an ice cube or ice in a paper or styrofoam cup in small circles all around the area of pain and inflammation.

So the reason you might not wish to take this type of medication is that it may prevent your body from healing naturally. There are many natural steps you can take to get rid of your discomfort once you discover the causes of your carpal tunnel symptoms.