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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) may sound more ominous than it actually is. It can be resolved with acupuncture. Swelling and inflammation of soft tissue can occur, within that particular area of the wrist known as the "carpal tunnel" following repeated extended writs movements in an unchanging manner.
Helen is a brilliant 40-year old advertising manager for a major ad agency. Her job requires her to work for several hours at her computer terminal to meet deadlines. Despite having had intermittent pain in her wrist for the past three month, she kept on working in order to complete the project. However, she came to me a week ago when she found herself barely able to hold a coffee cup or almost incapable of using the keyboard. Unfortunately, as with very many other patients I have seen, I diagnosed her with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms and Risk Factors
The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are numbness and/or tingling in the middle, index, and a part of the ring finger and on the thumb and wrist pain. This pain may shoot up through the forearm to the elbow without warning (and can lead to sleeping problems). Specific CTS risk factors include heavy lifting, awkward postures, the use of force, repetitive wrist motions, or any combination of these factors.
The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are numbness and/or tingling in the middle, index, and a part of the ring finger and on the thumb and wrist pain. This pain may shoot up through the forearm to the elbow without warning (and can lead to sleeping problems). Specific CTS risk factors include heavy lifting, awkward postures, the use of force, repetitive wrist motions, or any combination of these factors.
Due to the advancement of technology these past few years, almost all people now use computers at home or the office which has also led to an epidemic of shoulder, arm, and hand injuries caused by the use of the computer mouse, thousands of repeated keystrokes, and high speed typing.
Besides those risk factors, some people have been known to be very prone to developing CTS. They include diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, obese people, and pregnant or menopausal women.
What are the treatments for CTS?
Standard treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome may be based on the kind of underlying condition causing the symptoms and on how severe the symptoms are. To manage the symptoms, wrist splints and anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed. Sometimes corticosteroid shots may be administered in the affected region. Surgery might be necessary in the advanced stage of the condition in order to release the pressure in the carpal tunnel to stave off irreversible nerve damage.
Standard treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome may be based on the kind of underlying condition causing the symptoms and on how severe the symptoms are. To manage the symptoms, wrist splints and anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed. Sometimes corticosteroid shots may be administered in the affected region. Surgery might be necessary in the advanced stage of the condition in order to release the pressure in the carpal tunnel to stave off irreversible nerve damage.
There are other natural alternatives as well.
Research efforts have discovered that acupuncture has the ability to release cortisol, a hormone that alleviates inflammation and pain in the bloodstream. When a median nerve is pinched for whatever reason, it often causes inflammation and swelling in the carpal tunnel’s soft tissue. For the early stages of CTS, acupuncture in Fort Lauderdale is certainly a therapeutic option to consider.
This treatment can also help relieve the symptoms of headache, eye strain, shoulder stiffness, and neck pain typically experienced by people with CTS. A several treatments may be enough to attain an enduring and cumulative effect.