Acupuncture treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome and what you need to know

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of those nerve damage, with silent work-related manifestations, that prompts many people to seek medical attention. In our country, the number of people with this disease is on the rise. Acupuncture is showing a clear therapeutic potential in carpal tunnel syndrome. Join us to learn about acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome in the article below.

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• What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
• Effects of acupuncture on carpal tunnel syndrome
• How acupuncture treats carpal tunnel syndrome
• Considerations when choosing acupuncture to treat carpal tunnel syndrome
• Other methods to help treat carpal tunnel syndrome

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a neurological condition caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. This is the most common nerve compression disease, accounting for 90% of all neuropathies.

Typical occupations of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome include people who use computers for long periods of time, people who use equipment with vibrations such as construction workers, and any other occupation that requires have to move frequently and repeatedly. Before learning about acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome , let's take a look at the causes and symptoms.

Reason

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of many patient-specific, occupational, social, and environmental risk factors. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the result of increased carpal tunnel pressure and subsequent compression of the median nerve.

The most common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include genetics, a history of repetitive wrist movements such as typing, or working with machines as well as obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy.

The causative factor is a chain of detrimental effects on the wrist including increased pressure, obstruction of the total vascular flow, increased local edema, and microcirculation of the median nerve. Nerve dysfunction becomes compromised, and the structural integrity of the nerve is compromised from which the myelin sheath and axon are compromised. At the same time, the surrounding tissues become inflamed, losing their protective and supporting functions. Pressure and repetitive wrist movements aggravate and further damage the median nerve.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disease

Symptom

Early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain, numbness, and paresthesias. These symptoms usually appear, with some variation, in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the radial (side of the thumb) ring finger. Pain may also radiate to the affected arm. As it progresses, hand weakness, reduced motor coordination, clumsiness, and muscle atrophy may occur. Acupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome will help improve these symptoms.

In the early stages of the disease, symptoms usually appear at night and subside during the day. With further progression of the disease, symptoms will also appear during the day, especially with certain repetitive activities, such as when drawing, typing, or playing video games.

In more advanced stages of the disease, symptoms may not change.

Effects of acupuncture on carpal tunnel syndrome

Acupuncture treatment has been proven by studies published in domestic and international medical journals.

After acupuncture treatment, symptom severity of pain, numbness, and tingling indicated an improvement in the respective symptom severity scores. Besides, the grip force on the affected side in carpal tunnel syndrome patients was significantly increased.

In addition, the study that performed the electrophysiological evaluation also showed a significant increase in the motor conduction velocity of the palmo-wrist segment, reducing the peripheral motor potential time lag. At the same time, Tinel's sign was significantly reduced on the affected side.

Since research helps to show that acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome (including chiropractic, electro-acupuncture) has a positive therapeutic effect on carpal tunnel syndrome patients with evidence of symptom improvement, grip strength, electrophysiological function.

Acupuncture treatment is as effective as short-term low-dose prednisolone in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. For those who are intolerant or contraindicated to oral steroids, who do not opt ​​for early surgery, treatment with acupuncture as an appropriate alternative.

Acupuncture is effective in carpal tunnel syndrome

How acupuncture treats carpal tunnel syndrome

Contraindications

Weak body, poor resistance, pregnant women.

Do not prick the acupoints where there is inflammation, skin sores.

How to prick

Usually, acupuncture or electric acupuncture is applied to the main acupuncture points of Noi Quan, Dai Lang and some local acupoints depending on the affected location such as Lao Cung, Thieu Phu, Trung Chu, Hau Khe, Hop Co, Ngu Te, Bat Ta...

Considerations when choosing acupuncture to treat carpal tunnel syndrome

Acupuncture is like other treatment methods, patients need to pay attention to other issues such as activities and activities for the most effective treatment:

• Limit excessive wrist flexion in daily life, office work, sports, etc.
• Solve underlying diseases if affected such as diabetes, arthritis of the wrist, ...
• Supplement with vitamins of group B, especially B6, as prescribed by your doctor.

Other methods to help treat carpal tunnel syndrome

Patients can use more essential oils to massage the wrist area such as lavender essential oil, chamomile essential oil, pine essential oil, ...

Patients can massage their wrists with essential oils

Splints commonly used to support the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome are relatively inexpensive, non-invasive. Because carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with vigorous, repetitive activities of the hand and wrist. The purpose of a splint is to minimize motion in the wrist, reduce pressure on the nerve, and thereby relieve symptoms of pain and numbness. In addition, a brace that holds in a neutral wrist position results in lower carpal tunnel pressure than when flexed or extended.

Today, carpal tunnel syndrome is increasingly common, affecting patients' daily activities. Acupuncture has been promoting its strength in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Readers who want effective advice and treatment with acupuncture should go to a licensed medical facility.