You’re somewhere past the state line and your thumb feels like it’s wrapped in tape. You flex your fingers against the wheel. They still feel fuzzy.

If you drive for work, or just take a lot of road trips, you’ve probably felt this. It usually hits your thumb and the next two fingers. Your pinky tends to feel fine.

Why the Wheel Does It

A nerve called the median nerve runs through your wrist. It doesn’t have a lot of room. Grip the wheel hard and your wrist bends back without you thinking about it, and that pinches the nerve a little more.

The road adds to it. Every bump shakes the wheel a little, and your hands take it for hours. A death grip just sends more of that shaking into your wrists.

None of this means you have carpal tunnel syndrome for sure. Only a doctor can tell you that. But it’s a good reason to pay attention to how you hold the wheel.

Where a TENS Unit Comes In

A TENS unit for carpal tunnel pain won’t take the pressure off that nerve. What it might do is make the ache easier to live with once you’re out of the car.

You put two small pads on your skin and turn it on. Most people feel a light buzz. Some say their wrist and hand feel less sore while it runs. Others don’t notice much. Research on a TENS unit for carpal tunnel pain has been mixed, so it’s worth trying with realistic hopes.

Where do the pads go? Check your manual first. Many of them have a picture for using a TENS machine, like an Ultima 3200, on the wrist. If yours doesn’t, try one pad on the inside of your forearm. Put the other one on the soft spot of your palm right below your thumb.

Save it for when you’re parked or back home. Not while you’re driving. Numb fingers might not feel it if the level is too high, so keep it low. Got a pacemaker or another implant? Check with your doctor before you use a TENS machine for hand pain.

Getting It Checked Out

Go see someone if your hand stays numb long after the drive is over. Waking up with a dead hand at night is worth mentioning too. Dropping your phone or your keys a lot more than usual is another one.

Sudden numbness or weakness is a different thing. If it hits one side of your body, call 911. That could be a stroke.

On your next long trip, loosen up on the wheel a little. Your hands will tell you pretty quickly if it’s helping.

Be sure to check out our other blog posts for information and more tips to keep you operating at your peak.