Acupuncture is often a successful treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. It aims to decrease the local swelling and inflammation in the carpal tunnel itself, while relaxing the muscles of the forearm. There are several different acupuncture treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, including local needling, the use of electrical stimulation, moxibustion and distal needling (or needling connected but distant parts of the body). The technique and treatment chosen by an acupuncturist depends on a persons€™s body type and related circumstances (ex. history of injury, arthritis, circulation, etc.).

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a person typically receives biweekly acupuncture treatments and often notices an improvement in the first two weeks of treatment. Success with acupuncture depends greatly on a person’s ability to decrease or stop any repetitive motion that may exacerbate the condition while undergoing treatment. This allows the pressure on the median nerve to be eliminated without reintroducing it. Otherwise acupuncture will decrease the symptoms but not adequately treat the source. While individual circumstances influence the length of treatment, acupuncture does successfully treat mild to severe symptoms and has no negative or lingering side-effects.

 

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), is the most common of repetitive stress injuries (RSI), which annually cost in excess of $ 7 billion in workers' compensation, and $20 million in medical benefits, and lost wages. We commonly take for granted that our bodies can operate a computer mouse, type on a keyboard, or simply knit an afghan for prolonged periods of time until we experience pain. Previously, one of the common treatments for CTS was surgery, which proved beneficial in approximately half the cases. Chiropractic care are the only professionals which understand that the underlying problem must be found and corrected . If the cause is not found and treated unsuccessful treatment will result.

Other names for CTS

Occupational neuritis, partial thenar atrophy/ and median neuritis

Treatment:

Chiropractic care by a chiropractor trained in the treatment of CTS is the most effective, least invasive and least costly of all the treatments . Chiropractic care gets to the cause of the problem and not just treating the effects. We know that if you don't correct the misalignment of the carpal bones thru chiropractic adjustments the cause is still there and the symptoms will return. We know that surgery causes the wrist to be structurally weakened when the ligaments are cut and cause the joint to developed arthritis. We know that the anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers may help to relieve the pain and swelling but do nothing to reposition the carpal bones back into place. If the tunnel is not realigned the cause of the pressure on the median nerve is still there.

Exercises to strengthen the wrist and carpal tunnel

Wrist extension and flexion exercise, I am not a big advocate of stretching exercises because the cause of CTS is an over stretching of the carpal ligament. I think after chiropractic treatment has corrected the problem then mild stretching may be useful to keep flexibility in the joints but not when there is pain numbness and tingling or any symptoms.
Weighted wrist curls - I find one of the easiest exercises and most beneficial is wrist curls with a one to two pound weights. If you don't have weights you can use a can of vegetables from your pantry. The procedure is to hold the weight and then flex and extend your wrist slowly approximately 10-20 times three times per day.

If any of these exercises cause you problems consult your chiropractor immediately.

Surgery - when surgery is performed the supporting ligament is cut and sometimes removed. This procedure relieves the pressure on the nerve but destroys the structural integrity of the joint in the wrist making them more prone to arthritis changes one study shows. Surgery should be the last resort, because a recent study show that 50% of the people having surgery within 18 months will need a second surgery. I have had several patients that have had three different surgeries on their CTS. Chiropractic care should be the first choice because it is non invasive and has excellent results.
Concussion to the wrist is the most frequent cause of this problem. The trauma can be by a fall or it may be caused by or repetitive minor stress over a long period of time, is of particular significance when the trauma is falling on the hand, dorsiflexing the wrist, or using the hand in a wrist extended manner to force an object, such as striking a stuck window. Anyone who strains the wrist such as computer workers beauticians, waitresses, mechanics, carpenters& meat cutters are extra-susceptible to this condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), is the most common of repetitive stress injuries (RSI), which annually cost in excess of $ 7 billion in workers' compensation, and $20 million in medical benefits, and lost wages. We commonly take for granted that our bodies can operate a computer mouse, type on a keyboard, or simply knit an afghan for prolonged periods of time until we experience pain. Previously, one of the common treatments for CTS was surgery, which proved beneficial in approximately half the cases. Chiropractic care are the only professionals which understand that the underlying problem must be found and corrected . If the cause is not found and treated unsuccessful treatment will result.