Office workers do not tend to experience many injuries at work. However, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common phenomenon in people who use a computer.
This article is intended for people suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, inflammation, and pain in the wrist to map out the most effective complementary medicine treatment for CTS.
In many cases, people come for acupuncture with CTS “just before surgery.”
If you are tired of injections or pills and do not feel like getting into surgery for a non-life-threatening problem, this is a critical article.
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Case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Jack, 29, works for a high-tech company as a computer engineer.
He asked to schedule first thing in the morning to get to work on time.
Jack works for many hours in front of a computer and recently suffers from pain in his left palm, which causes numbness of the second and third fingers. The pain and numbness in hand are caused by pressure exerted on the wrist when working with the computer.
In the first treatment, Jack was treated with acupuncture on the right foot, and to his surprise, the sensitivity in his hand decreased by 50%.
In subsequent treatments, he similarly received acupuncture, and the sensitivity of the hand steadily decreased, and he didn’t need to go for surgery.
I asked Jack to improve the position in which he sits in front of the computer and replace the keyboard and mouse with an ergonomic setup.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The Carpal Tunnel is a passageway on the palm side of the wrist. Its lower borders are the palm bones, and its upper border is a thick strip (under the skin). Tendons and nerves pass through the canal. When the nerve is compressed, symptoms can include numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm.
When there is internal pressure in the canal from local inflammation, pressure is created on the median nerve, which causes a feeling of numbness, tingling, electric currents, and pain in the hand, fingers, and arm.
Occasionally there can be a weakness of the arm muscles and difficulty grasping things.
This condition is called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome- C.T.S.
Inflammation can be caused by strenuous work of the joint, sabotage of the common, or pressure on the canal like leaning the hand on the table while working in front of the computer and moving the mouse.
Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is performed at points that open up the energy blockages and restore the harmonious flow to the body. According to Chinese medicine, the location of inflammation will usually be in points 6 or 7 in the pericardial meridian, which is the meridian that dominates the area of Carpal Tunnel syndrome. The most recommended treatment is acupuncture.
Acupuncture is very effective in reducing inflammation, and pain relief usually comes at the beginning of a series of treatments. These acupuncture points were found mainly in the feet and hands and sometimes in the wrist itself.
Patients report a sensation of flow when the needle is inserted; this is an experience that indicates the opening of an energy block in the palm, better flow of blood and energy and allowing access to the body to repair the damaged joints.
In difficult situations, it is better to perform treatment more frequently, and as there is an improvement in the condition, the frequency of treatment can be reduced.
The Differential Diagnosis for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
It is not uncommon for me to see patients in the clinic who have been through CTS surgery that didn’t work. The reason for it, in some cases, is a wrong diagnosis. A higher pressure location on the nerve, such as the neck, can produce the same symptoms in the wrist, palm, and fingers. A few simple tests can be done to verify the cause. In some cases, it can be both from the neck and wrist, and it is important to check – before the surgery.
Acupuncture can also treat the nerve pressure in the cervical spine. So it is a wise choice to try acupuncture before you go to surgery.
