Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Overview

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of a nerve in the median of the wrist that produces numbness, tingling, and sometimes pain.

Symptoms

The carpal tunnel is a small tunnel that runs from the bottom of the wrist to the lower palm.

Several tendons that help to move the fingers pass through the carpal tunnel. So does the median nerve, which controls sensation and movement of your hand.

On the inner side of the wrist the carpal tunnel is enclosed within tissue called the transverse carpal ligament.

In cases of CTS, the space inside the tunnel is made smaller by the increased tissue pressure and a build-up of fluid in the tissue (oedema). This places pressure on the median nerve. The pressure is increased further when the wrist and fingers are bent (flexion). Compression of the median nerve causes the symptoms of pain and numbness.

Weakness and tingling in the first three fingers, thumb, and the palm surface of the hands can also occur. Pain, burning, and/or tingling sensations can also manifest along the entire arm, neck, hips, and thigh. Carpal tunnel can occur in one of both wrists, and in some cases gripping strength and the ability to pick up and hold objects can be significantly impaired.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can also occur during pregnancy when women retain fluid and the hands swell.

Causes

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is most common in women 35 and older. Conditions that can create swelling or fluid shifts that contribute to pressure on the wrist nerve, such as pregnancy; low thyroid functions; occupations that require forceful or repetitive wrist movements; vitamin B6 deficiencies (monoamine oxidase inhibitor anti-depressant drugs can create a deficiency in vitamin B6 and should be avoided if possible); nerve disorders; compression of the nerve root of the sixth cervical vertebra due to misalignment of the neck; muscular spasm; osteoarthritis; disk disease; or tumor can all cause or contribute to the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and therefore must be ruled out or properly addressed before lasting improvement can be achieved. Carpal tunnel syndrome may also be secondary to other wrist conditions, such as sprains.

Carpal tunnel is often a misdiagnosis of thoracic outlet compression syndrome, in which pressure to the lower cervical and upper thoracic nerves results in dysfunction of the tissues and nerves associated with the brachial nerves. If this is the case, then treatment should focus on resolving the thoracic outlet compression first.

Many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome can also be traced to interference fields in the arm, shoulders, or neck, and are often caused by vaccination scars.

Do

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Diet

Eat a whole foods diet and limit your protein intake. Also eliminate foods containing yellow dyes, and avoid stressor foods that deplete the body`s level of B6 such as excessive consumption of sugars, caffeine, and processed grains and corn. Good foods to focus on are whole grains, seeds, and nuts, soybeans, fresh salmon, brewer`s yeast, molasses, liver, wheat bran and germ, and cod.

Supplements:

People with carpal tunnel syndrome often have a large deficiency of vitamin B6, or have lifestyle factors that inhibit B6 metabolism such as stress, or ingesting Yellow Dye No. 5 and tartrazine derivatives. A deficiency of vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, can also cause a pyridoxine-responsive neuropathy (nerve disorder). Treatment with B6 may relieve the symptoms in many cases, eliminating the need for surgery. Daily dosage ranges from 25-300 mg, depending on the person`s biochemistry. Caution: Pyridoxine supplementation may create a nerve disorder (sensory neuropathy) in dosages as low as 300 mg, if taken daily for long periods. However, most of the cases of vitamin B6 toxicity have been reported with dosages from 2-5 grams per day.

In addition to vitamin B6, other useful nutrients to relief the pain and help speed healing include vitamin B complex, magnesium, essential fatty acids, folic acid, bromelain, coenzyme Q10, kelp, manganese, protease enzyme formula, pycnogenol, and zinc. Thyroid hormone can also be helpful in cases of carpal tunnel related to low thyroid function.

Prescription and non-prescription medication:

What non-prescription and prescription drugs are you taking? Your non-prescription and prescription are partially the reason that you have this illness or disease – you need to get off these medications but do so only under the guidance of a licensed health care practitioner.

Mind

We know that when the body is out of balance, energy doesn’t flow, leading blockages and eventually disease. Here are some things you can do to combat stress and restore balance:

Go to a Dr Morter BEST (Bio-Energetic Synchronisation Technique) Practitioner.

Stephen Lewis, founder of the Aim Program. Find out more by clicking here.

. Find out more by clicking here.

Consider using Mary Millers Iching System Products – ichingsystemsinstruments.com

Reiki healing is very powerful in releasing stress and emotional baggage. Find a practitioner here.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has had remarkable results in dissolving stress. Find a local practitioner here or go towww.thetappingsolution.com or www.tftrx.com

Try Hypnotherapy to relax the mind. Find a practitioner here.

Meditation has been scientifically shown to relieve stress, as well as to improve overall health and immune function, and to reduce the pain and suffering caused by chronic disease. In fact, in 1984, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommended meditation as the more appropriate and effective choice for treating mild cases of high blood pressure, instead of commonly prescribed blood pressure medications. Meditation can offer new insights and improved coping strategies, better enabling you to meet the challenges of the day. Some types of meditation, such as Transcendental Meditation (TM), have even been shown to produce deeper states of physical relaxation than ordinary sleep.Although there are many types of meditation practices to choose from, all of them have one thing in common: focused attention on the breath. If you are new to meditation, you can begin by sitting up straight yet comfortably and closing your eyes. Place your attention on your breathing as you inhale and exhale. Each time you find your attention starting to wander, simply refocus on your breath. Though doing so may seem difficult initially, with practice it will become easier and easier, and you will easily spend 20 to 30 minutes meditating in this manner. The key is to be gentle with yourself and not force. At first, you may find yourself unable to sit still for more than a few minutes. If that is the case, don’t continue. Instead, each day seek to add to the length of your meditation practice until you reach your goal of 20 to 30 minutes per session.

Remedies

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Articles

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and acupuncture: www.pingminghealth.com/article/517/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-and-acupuncture

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and pregnancy: www.babycenter.com/0_carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy_234.bc

Video

Ancient remedies to help carpal tunnel syndrome: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co1QdIsZfgY

Yoga for carpal tunnel syndrome: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IJC0bckKBY

Exercises and stretches for carpal tunnel syndrome: www.ehow.com/videos-on_3764_yoga-stretches-carpal-tunnel-syndrome.html

Research

Yoga for carpal tunnel syndrome: yoga.about.com/od/yogatherapy/ss/carpaltunnel.htm

Further Information (links and books)

Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries: A Self-Care Program, Sharon J. Butler; The Carpal Tunnel Helpbook: Self-Healing Alternatives for Carpal Tunnel and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries, Scott Fried, Valerie Prescott, M.D. Scott Fried.

Links:

Pycnogenol

www.sourcenaturals.com

Soft Laser Therapy

www.softlasertherapy.org (803) 955-0178

Essential Oils, Rivendell

www.rivendellaromatics.com (805) 649-2476

Vitamin B complex, Total-B Sublingual

www.liquidbvitamins.com

Magnesium, Natural Calm

www.therawfoodworld.com (866) 729-3438

Dr. Enzyme, Crystal Star