Acupuncture for
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

How many of us spend way too much time at our keyboards? For most of us that is not a great problem, perhaps just a time waster. For others it can cause serious damage to our hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as CTS, appears to be caused by pinched nerves in the wrist. It can cause serious pain and a lack of sensation in the fingers. Left untreated the pain can travel up the arm and eventually can cause a paralyzing sensation, similar to when a limb falls asleep; that tingly prickly feeling. Trying to avoid having to give up their employment or the pleasures of long conversations with friends over email and online chats many people have turned to acupuncture to see if they can find the help they need. Most of these people have been rewarded with improvement.

Acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome usually consists of fine needles being inserted in many parts of the body but particularly the hands, wrists, arms, and often the neck and legs as well. These include the meridians, pathways, of the liver, kidney and gall bladder. By unblocking the energy flow acupuncturists believe they will cure the painful hands associated with carpal tunnel, but better than that they will cure the syndrome itself. The needles will likely be used by themselves, but as well they may use pressure to increase the energy flow and heat as well to promote faster healing. How long it takes to heal will be totally dependent on how severe the symptoms, how long they have been there and how much you use the hand that they are trying to heal. Rest is always an element of any cure.

A recent study of people who suffered with carpal tunnel syndrome showed some very interesting results. Of a trail group of three dozen people fourteen wound up resorting to surgery to try to fix the problem. None of them were successful. The group was given three treatments weekly for about five weeks. Following this it was found that thirty three of them either had no more pain or the pain had diminished by at least fifty percent. This included those who had undergone surgery with no results. Follow-up on this group showed that after a year the problem reoccurred in only two of twenty three followed but that a follow-up treatment solved that within a few weeks.

Acupressure can also be used to help this problem. The difference is that instead of using the needles to help it uses pressure, usually applied with the fingers, but sometimes with small devices, to increase the blood flow. The increase in blood flow will help contain the swelling and will definitely ease the pain and numbness.

Acupuncture is not the answer to all medical issues, it is not a medical cure, but it definitely is a natural alternative that is making a big difference in many medical conditions without being an invasive procedure or requiring the person suffering the problem to take more medication.