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In Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the median nerve is impinged at a point in the wrist where it passes through a narrow, tunnel-like opening. The carpal tunnel is formed by the transverse carpal ligament and two bones in the wrist: the hammate and pisiform.
The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are:
* Numbness or tingling in the thumb and first two fingers
* Pain in the hand or wrist
* Weakness in the wrist and hand (poor grip strength, trouble lifting and carrying items)
* Difficulty moving the fingers and wrist
* Muscle Atrophy
If you have been enduring any of the above symptoms, it's best to be evaluated by a doctor to determine whether Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the cause. Although a definitive diagnosis requires a doctor, here are some quick tests you can try at home:
1. Tinel's Sign: Hold your symptomatic hand out, palm up. Tap firmly and quickly on the center of the wrist crease for several seconds. If this tapping aggravates your symptoms, it may be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
2. Phalen's Test: Bend your elbows and press the backs of your hands together in front of your chest. Fingers should point downward, and the wrists bent at a 90 degree angle. Hold this position for one minute. Any flare up in symptoms suggests Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
3. Reverse Phalen's Test: Press the palms of your hands together in a prayer position. Lower your wrists and forearms as far as you can without allowing your hands to separate. Hold this position for one minute. Again, any flare-up of symptoms suggests Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
There are many reasons why someone may develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Because the carpal tunnel is a narrow space, the median nerve running through it may become entrapped if there is any inflammation, fluid, or scar tissue buildup within the tunnel. This may occur due to overuse, fluid retention, obesity, misalignment of wrist or other joints, or a cyst or tumor in the wrist.
Choosing the Right Treatment for You
Not all treatments are created equal, and there are several to choose from. It is therefore vital to learn about your treatment options in order to make an educated decision about what's right for you. The two main choices are allopathic medicine (medical doctors, or M.D.s) and alternative medicine (chiropractic and/or acupuncture). Read on to learn how these approaches differ, and be sure to read my recommendation as the end.
Allopathic Medicine for Carpal Tunnel:
The traditional western medicine approach entails doctors doing orthopedic, nerve conduction velocity, and electromyography tests to diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Treatment options include wearing a brace for weeks, taking NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) like Ibuprofen, corticosteroid injections, and ergonomic assessment and modifications.
Although ergonomic evaluation and counseling is a good idea, there are many drawbacks with the other therapies in this model. Wearing a brace takes several weeks and is often ineffective. Taking NSAIDs may minimize pain and inflammation, but this is a band aid rather than a solution. Moreover, long-term use of NSAIDS involves a risk of serious side effects and complications like ulcers (bleeding in the stomach or gut). Corticosteroids are also effective in minimizing inflammation, but they, too, fail to address what triggered the inflammation, and repeated injections may lead to negative consequences for the wrist ligaments, immune system, and the adrenal glands.
Taking the above measures often fails to provide relief. In fact, over 50% of people who try the above methods end up getting surgery. The surgical "solution" to this problem is to sever (cut) the transverse carpal ligament to make more room for the median nerve. Destroying this ligament destabilizes the structures within the tunnel. Although this provides relief for some, this means a period of limited use and physical therapy during the recovery. Moreover, there is always the risk that scar tissue resulting from the surgery will re-impinge the median nerve.
The allopathic medicine approach has no therapies that address misalignments in the wrist or other parts of the spine. In fact, most medical doctors are not trined to identify or treat such types of misalignments.
Alternative Medicine for Carpal Tunnel:
Besides orthopedic testing, alternative medicine doctors use palpation and muscle testing to identify the underlying cause of the problem. Expect an exam that evaluates the whole body rather than only focusing on the problem area.
Palpation is used to identify any misalignments that can irritate the median nerve. Professional Applied Kinesiology (muscle testing and biofeedback) is another valuable tool in diagnosing and correcting the cause of the Carpal Tunnel symptoms. The main treatment options in alternative medicine include chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture, and treatments may address other problem areas besides the wrist.
Chiropractic has an impressive track record for resolving the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Often these symptoms result from misalignment(s) of the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and/or neck. In such cases, chiropractic adjustments can quickly and easily remove pressure from the median nerve, eliminate pain, and restore normal joint and muscle mechanics. Mild soreness sometimes follows the adjustment but resolves within a day.
An acupuncturist will evaluate your pulse and examine your tongue in order to determine the cause of the problem. The treatment will involve inserting a few thin, sterile needles at various points throughout the body to restore balance and provide relief. Acupuncture, supplements, and diet modification have also been effective at decreasing inflammation and providing relief for many people.
Recommendations:
1. If you are retaining too much fluid, try Vitamin B6; it is a natural diuretic.
2. If your job involves repetitive motions for prolonged periods, such as long hours at a keyboard, get an ergonomic evaluation to minimize the stress on your wrist.
3. For a full month, cut out all sugar and sugar substitutes from your diet, and limit grians. These foods all increase inflammation and provoke the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
4. See a chiropractor or acupuncturist who specializes in Professional Applied Kinesiology (PAK) for natural treatments for your carpal tunnel syndrome. Go to icakusa.com and click on "Find a Doctor" to search for someone near you.
Most people respond very well to chiropractic, acupuncture, and/or supplements and dietary measures. However, if these natural treatments fail to provide relief, the more invasive treatments offered by western medicine can be a back-up option.
The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are:
* Numbness or tingling in the thumb and first two fingers
* Pain in the hand or wrist
* Weakness in the wrist and hand (poor grip strength, trouble lifting and carrying items)
* Difficulty moving the fingers and wrist
* Muscle Atrophy
If you have been enduring any of the above symptoms, it's best to be evaluated by a doctor to determine whether Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the cause. Although a definitive diagnosis requires a doctor, here are some quick tests you can try at home:
1. Tinel's Sign: Hold your symptomatic hand out, palm up. Tap firmly and quickly on the center of the wrist crease for several seconds. If this tapping aggravates your symptoms, it may be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
2. Phalen's Test: Bend your elbows and press the backs of your hands together in front of your chest. Fingers should point downward, and the wrists bent at a 90 degree angle. Hold this position for one minute. Any flare up in symptoms suggests Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
3. Reverse Phalen's Test: Press the palms of your hands together in a prayer position. Lower your wrists and forearms as far as you can without allowing your hands to separate. Hold this position for one minute. Again, any flare-up of symptoms suggests Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
There are many reasons why someone may develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Because the carpal tunnel is a narrow space, the median nerve running through it may become entrapped if there is any inflammation, fluid, or scar tissue buildup within the tunnel. This may occur due to overuse, fluid retention, obesity, misalignment of wrist or other joints, or a cyst or tumor in the wrist.
Choosing the Right Treatment for You
Not all treatments are created equal, and there are several to choose from. It is therefore vital to learn about your treatment options in order to make an educated decision about what's right for you. The two main choices are allopathic medicine (medical doctors, or M.D.s) and alternative medicine (chiropractic and/or acupuncture). Read on to learn how these approaches differ, and be sure to read my recommendation as the end.
Allopathic Medicine for Carpal Tunnel:
The traditional western medicine approach entails doctors doing orthopedic, nerve conduction velocity, and electromyography tests to diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Treatment options include wearing a brace for weeks, taking NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) like Ibuprofen, corticosteroid injections, and ergonomic assessment and modifications.
Although ergonomic evaluation and counseling is a good idea, there are many drawbacks with the other therapies in this model. Wearing a brace takes several weeks and is often ineffective. Taking NSAIDs may minimize pain and inflammation, but this is a band aid rather than a solution. Moreover, long-term use of NSAIDS involves a risk of serious side effects and complications like ulcers (bleeding in the stomach or gut). Corticosteroids are also effective in minimizing inflammation, but they, too, fail to address what triggered the inflammation, and repeated injections may lead to negative consequences for the wrist ligaments, immune system, and the adrenal glands.
Taking the above measures often fails to provide relief. In fact, over 50% of people who try the above methods end up getting surgery. The surgical "solution" to this problem is to sever (cut) the transverse carpal ligament to make more room for the median nerve. Destroying this ligament destabilizes the structures within the tunnel. Although this provides relief for some, this means a period of limited use and physical therapy during the recovery. Moreover, there is always the risk that scar tissue resulting from the surgery will re-impinge the median nerve.
The allopathic medicine approach has no therapies that address misalignments in the wrist or other parts of the spine. In fact, most medical doctors are not trined to identify or treat such types of misalignments.
Alternative Medicine for Carpal Tunnel:
Besides orthopedic testing, alternative medicine doctors use palpation and muscle testing to identify the underlying cause of the problem. Expect an exam that evaluates the whole body rather than only focusing on the problem area.
Palpation is used to identify any misalignments that can irritate the median nerve. Professional Applied Kinesiology (muscle testing and biofeedback) is another valuable tool in diagnosing and correcting the cause of the Carpal Tunnel symptoms. The main treatment options in alternative medicine include chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture, and treatments may address other problem areas besides the wrist.
Chiropractic has an impressive track record for resolving the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Often these symptoms result from misalignment(s) of the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and/or neck. In such cases, chiropractic adjustments can quickly and easily remove pressure from the median nerve, eliminate pain, and restore normal joint and muscle mechanics. Mild soreness sometimes follows the adjustment but resolves within a day.
An acupuncturist will evaluate your pulse and examine your tongue in order to determine the cause of the problem. The treatment will involve inserting a few thin, sterile needles at various points throughout the body to restore balance and provide relief. Acupuncture, supplements, and diet modification have also been effective at decreasing inflammation and providing relief for many people.
Recommendations:
1. If you are retaining too much fluid, try Vitamin B6; it is a natural diuretic.
2. If your job involves repetitive motions for prolonged periods, such as long hours at a keyboard, get an ergonomic evaluation to minimize the stress on your wrist.
3. For a full month, cut out all sugar and sugar substitutes from your diet, and limit grians. These foods all increase inflammation and provoke the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
4. See a chiropractor or acupuncturist who specializes in Professional Applied Kinesiology (PAK) for natural treatments for your carpal tunnel syndrome. Go to icakusa.com and click on "Find a Doctor" to search for someone near you.
Most people respond very well to chiropractic, acupuncture, and/or supplements and dietary measures. However, if these natural treatments fail to provide relief, the more invasive treatments offered by western medicine can be a back-up option.
About the Author:
Jasmine Greene is an educator on health, wellness, and holistic medicine. Are you looking for a Glen Ellyn Acupuncturist? Consider a visit to Kinesis.
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