Acupuncture
for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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
From an Oriental medicine perspective,
CTS is seen as a disruption of the flow of Qi and Blood within the
area and associated with Cold, Dampness or Wind penetrating the
muscles and sinews of the wrist. Acupuncture points, stretching
exercises, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements are 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 love suffers carpal tunnel
syndrome, please call to find out more about how acupuncture and
Oriental medicine can help
you.
Sources:
Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text. By
Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1981
Plastic
and Reconstructive Surgery: Volume 105(5) April 2000 pp
1662-1665
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In
This Issue
- Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- New Study on Acupuncture & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
New
Study on Acupuncture & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Acupuncture
is as effective as the corticosteroid, prednisone, for the treatment
of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), according to a new
study.The randomized, controlled study that was
published in the May 2009 issue of The Clinical Journal of Pain,
investigated the efficacy of acupuncture compared with steroid
treatment in patients with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome
as measured by both nerve conduction studies and symptom assessment
surveys. Seventy-seven patients were randomly divided into 2
groups. One group received eight acupuncture treatments over four
weeks, and the other group received oral doses of prednisone, daily,
for four weeks. The results showed that acupuncture was just as
effective as the corticosteroid for pain, numbness, tingling and
weakness. For the symptoms of night time awakening and motor
function, the acupuncture group had better results. The
researchers concluded that acupuncture is a safe and effective
treatment option for CTS for those who experience side effects to
oral steroids or for those who do not opt for early
surgery. Source: The Clinical Journal of Pain.
25(4):327-333, May 2009.
doi:
10.1097/AJP.0b013e318190511c |
