What is the carpal tunnel?
The carpal tunnel is a structure of ligaments and bones at the wrist that form an opening, or a tunnel (hence the name). The median nerve, as well as several tendons, pass through this tunnel to the hand. The ligaments that form the carpal tunnel will sometimes become inflamed or irritated, causing the opening of the tunnel to narrow. The narrowing of the tunnel puts pressure on the median nerve causing a sensation of numbness in the hand and fingers. There are several ways that the carpal tunnel can become inflamed including various illnesses, obesity, pregnancy and smoking (smoking can reduce blood flow to the median nerve). Most commonly it is due to repetitive stress and overuse of the wrist. Frequent use of a keyboard or computer mouse forces your wrist in to a certain position that puts a strain on your wrist. Over time this constant strain created inflammation in the wrist and can result in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
How can carpal tunnel be treated with acupuncture?
Treatment options include NSAIDs (such as Advil, Tylenol, etc.), rest, ice and splinting to help keep the wrist in a neutral position. If the problem is chronic and all other treatments have failed, surgery is sometimes suggested to help widen the carpal tunnel. For some the surgery is a permanent solution, but for many the wrist becomes inflamed again over time and the CTS symptoms come back.
Acupuncture can safely and effectively resolve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by encouraging circulation and unblocking the affected acupuncture meridians. According to Chinese medical theory, there is a network of meridians, or channels, that run through the body. Running through these channels is something known as “Qi”. Qi is best described and visualized as the body’s internal energy. The sensation of pain and/or numbness is a result of a blockage of the flow of Qi. By resolving the blockage, Qi can flow freely and the pain disappears.
As some of you know, in addition to private practice I am also affiliated with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and am serving as an acupuncturist for a research study on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. This study uses functional MRI brain imaging to study the effects of acupuncture on CTS and pain. The study is on-going and is always accepting new subjects.
If you or someone you know suffers from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or any hand/wrist pain, there is a natural and safe alternative to drugs and surgery in acupuncture!
Phalen’s Test for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Not all wrist pain or hand numbness is due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and patients are very often misdiagnosed with having CTS. True CTS is the compression of the median nerve by the carpal tunnel. Pain and numbness in the arms, hands or fingers can also stem from compression of nerves or blood vessels in the neck (cervical vertebrae), the shoulder (brachial plexus) or the elbow. A simple orthopedic test for CTS is called the Phalen’s Test: Hold the back sides of your hands together with your elbows out. Hold this position for 60 seconds. If this recreates the pain and numbness symptoms that you have been experiencing then there is a good chance that you may have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
