Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Acupuncture

Portland, Maine

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a serious problem and is becoming more prevalent despite ergonomic measures to reduce Carpal Tunnel injuries.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive stress injury that results in inflammation of the ligaments, tendons and soft tissue that lie inside the carpal tunnel, or the flexor retinaculum (transverse carpal ligament) that forms the carpal tunnel.  This inflammation compresses the median nerve and you may feel the following in the thumb, index and middle finger:

* Pain

* Numbness

* Tingling

* Weakness

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has been very effectively treated with acupuncture over the years.  Thin needles inserted painlessly in the wrists can reduce, even eliminate the pain associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  Acupuncture, combined with ice therapy, stretching and even physical therapy can reduce the symptoms or alleviate the problem completely.  Oftentimes acupuncture alone will do the trick.

A patient of ours we’ll call Seth, works at a

very busy restaurant.  He is cooking for hundreds of people and uses tongs on the grill most of the time.  He has occasional flare ups of all of the above symptoms.  He immediately seeks acupuncture treatment and the symptoms are eradicated completely after one visit.  He often has to return after 6 weeks or so, but it’s a small inconvenience given the alternative treatments that would likely keep him out of work.  If carpal tunnel syndrome progresses it may require a surgery that cuts the transverse carpal ligament, a procedure called “Carpal Tunnel Release”.

If you live around Portland, Maine, have carpal tunnel syndrome and have questions about whether or not acupuncture could help you, please call (207) 774-6251