Carpal tunnel syndrome is due to compression of the nerve that supplies motor activity and sensation to the thumb and first three fingers. The nerve is liable to nipping as it enters the hand at the wrist joint, passing through the carpal tunnel. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome includes pins and needles, numbness in the thumb and first three fingers, pains shooting up the arm from the wrist; symptoms are worse at night.
You might wake up in the night feeling the need to “shake out” the hand or wrist. To help with the pain, relieve it by hanging the arm over the side of the bed. In chronic and untreated cases, the muscle at the base of the thumb may waste away. Some people are unable to tell between hot and cold touch. Treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome should begin as soon as possible once it has been diagnosed. Firstly, you should rest the affected hand and wrist for about 2 weeks. You should put the wrist in a splint to avoid further damage from twisting. If the wrist become enflamed, apply a cool pack to reduce swelling. Exercise the area by stretching and strengthening, supervised by a physical therapist, trained in this area.
To help with the healing process and prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome, begin by eating a whole food diet and exercise, hydrotherapy in the form of hand baths, for the effects of both the warm water itself and the herbal and aromatherapeutic remedies. You can massage both the wrist and upper back shoulder girdle, and upper and lower arms, to tone the muscles and stimulate circulation. Whole food meals and snacks with plenty of fresh organic fruit and vegetables and their juices, for the antioxidant content will combat the aging process, and the onset of arthritis. Vegetal silica, once called horsetail, is a well known diuretic and can help dispel excess fluid that exasperates carpal tunnel symptoms. The Chinese herb Schisandra, stimulates the nervous system, increasing the speed of conduction of nerves, reflexes and their responses. Nettle leaf preparations are used to treat arthritis, and acupuncture, a very successful treatment also for carpal tunnel syndrome. A recommended acupressure point is “Big Mound” found in the middle of the inside of the wrist crease, help to treat the symptom.
Finally, surgery may be advised, where a cut is made in the tough fibrous roof of the carpal tunnel on the inner aspect of the wrist, releasing the pressure upon the median nerve and other structures that pass through into the hand. The use of water relieving pills and pain killers may be prescribed. If you follow a more holistic remedy, you will bypass the methods of surgery and painkillers, which I highly recommend.
Always follow a well balance organic whole food diet and a holistic path to help cure the ailments of carpal tunnel syndrome.
