Saturday, August 22, 2009

An Overview of Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Practicing Unique Exercises

By Tom Nicholson

If you feel pain and numbness in the wrist, it may be carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome is also felt by a tingling of the hands and fingers. This could be because of frequent use of hands and fingers and if you are suffering from this syndrome, you will tend to decrease your performance level not only at your job, but also at home. Another problem with carpal tunnel syndrome is the treatment. No one would opt for surgery to treat the syndrome. It's a good thing that there are alternative treatments for the relief of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Rest and cold packs are the easiest alternative you can begin with for this problem. Simply allowing your wrists long rest periods from the activities that aggravate them can help relieve some of the symptoms. Applying ice packs can help with swelling and pain.

Chiropractic care is a good alternative to try. They have a theory on the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome that has to do with nerve compression in the neck. They call it the double crush syndrome. The theory is based on the idea that if a nerve axon is compressed enough, it will not get the nutrients it needs and the distant portions of that nerve will degenerate. What this means for carpal tunnel syndrome is that the top portion of the median nerve is compressed in some way near the spinal cord. This affects the nerve's ability to function the further it gets from the spinal cord, resulting in pain and numbness when it reaches the hand.

Chiropractors have found that many patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome also complain of pain in the neck, shoulder and arm. They may have a decreased range of motion for their neck and a history of previous neck injury or surgery. A typical treatment course at the chiropractor's office for this condition may include adjustments made to the neck, shoulder, elbow and wrist. While some still find this theory controversial, others swear it is effective.

Acupuncture is another alternative therapy that is often used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Thin needles are inserted into certain points of the body to release blockages of energy along meridians of the body. The acupuncture releases these blockages and the improved flow will heal the symptoms.

When being treated for carpal tunnel syndrome, needles are placed on the wrist, thumb, arm and hands as well as any other spot that the therapist thinks may assist in opening the blockage. You may feel relief after a single session. How many sessions you need will depend on how long you've had the condition, your health and how much you use your hand. Acupressure can also be used in place of acupuncture. The same pressure points are used, but instead of needles, the therapist applies pressure at these points with their fingers. The pressure points are thought to relieve muscle tension, and promote circulation. Acupuncture and acupressure has given relief to some people for whom even surgical procedures were not effective.

Other alternative therapies like vitamin B6 supplementation, herbs like arnica and yoga have shown promise in relieving this condition as well. Movement re-education programs like Feldenkrais may also help reduce joint stress and improve flexibility.

There are several ways that you can do to ease out the pain from carpal tunnel syndrome. Opting for these alternative solutions would help your syndrome to heal and at the same time, to avoid worst condition that leads to surgery.

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