How Can I Help Carpal Tunnel Pain Naturally?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common job-related injuries and is responsible for the highest number of days lost among all work related injuries. It is the reason for over two million visits to physicians' offices and approximately 465,000 carpal tunnel release operations each year, making it the most frequent surgery of the hand and wrist. Acupuncture is extremely effective at treating carpal tunnel syndrome; eliminating the need for surgery or the use of anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. In fact, one of the most common reasons that people get acupuncture is for repetitive stress injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome. Recent studies even suggest that acupuncture may be more effective than corticosteroids when it comes to treating CTS.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist made up of ligaments and bones. The median nerve and the tendons that connect the fingers to the muscles of the forearm pass through this tightly spaced tunnel.Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as median nerve entrapment, occurs when swelling or irritation of the nerve or tendons in the carpal tunnel results in pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb, index and middle fingers. The symptoms often first appear during the night. As symptoms worsen, people might feel pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. If not properly treated, CTS can cause irreversible nerve damage and permanent deterioration of muscle tissue.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Acupuncture

CTS is due to the repetitive motion, often from constant use of the wrist such as typing. This constant repetitive motion over time creates inflammation and pain, a sign that the body is signaling you to stop the painful action. This would be a good time to start taking breaks from the repetitive activity and start stretching the muscles of the wrist and hands, like in a prayer position to reduce the chances of inflaming the wrists even further. The greatest and most natural method to break up the hardening inflammation is the use of combining acupuncture, acupressure, Active Release Therapy (ART), stretching exercises, and herbal remedies chosen to treat accordingly. As well as reducing the swelling, inflammation and pain in the wrist, acupuncture addresses any headaches, neck pain, shoulder stiffness and sleeping problems that often accompany this condition. Your treatment may also take into account any underlying conditions that contribute to the development of CTS including obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems, diabetes, hormonal changes of pregnancy and menopause. If you or someone you know suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome, please call an Eastern Medical Center to find out more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you.

Source: Acufinder.com

EMC of Pleasanton

Teresa Shen, L.A.c: CEO and Master Of Chinese Medicine, an acupuncturist of four generations of Chinese Medical practitioners. An expert in pain and stress management: stiff necks, back pain, shoulder, wrist and joint pains, migraines, addictions to drugs, infertility, and cosmetic acupuncture.

Clinton Muhammad, Sports Acupressure Massage Therapist Clinton Muhammad specializes Sports Recovery and Trauma using Active Release Therapy (ART) and his passion is fitness and wellness solutions.

Jax Chao, L.Ac, Eastern Medical Center of Pleasanton: Jax specializes in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with a focus on headaches, allergies, carpal tunnel, anxiety, and all kinds of muscular-skeletal pains.

Eric Wei Wang, DAOM L.Ac, Eastern Medical Center of Pleasanton: Eric specializes in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with a focus on orthopedics trauma and sport medicine.

Adrienne Dooling L.Ac.,Acupuncturist Dooling specializes in structural alignment and chronic diseases including scoliosis, meniscus tears (incomplete tears), arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease and other digestive issues. Dooling can help balance the autonomic nervous system through alignment of the pelvis and spine and is proficient in Seitai Shinpo, a specialized form of acupuncture, and Shiunko Moxibustion, also known as Japanese structural acupuncture.

Candace Luo, L.Ac., MSTCM, MHA, CMI Luo specializes in working with internal ailments such as acute respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, and digestive-intestinal disorders. She also helps patients challenged by fatigue, diabetes, osteoarthritis and women’s health issues, including fertility and menopause.