7 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fixes

All of a sudden your hand goes numb. You shake it out and the numbness goes away, however, over time, symptoms return and begin waking you up at night. Wrist, hand and finger tingling/pain are some of the signs of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a common condition in which the median nerve, a major sensory connector to the thumb and fingers, becomes impinged. CTS afflicts thousands of people per year.

According to The National Center for Health Statistics, it is stated that,

“…approximately 260,000 carpal tunnel release surgeries are performed each year. Nearly 47% of all cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are caused by work-related activities, and approximately 1% of people with carpal tunnel syndrome may develop permanent injury to the affected hand.”

Below are 7 carpal tunnel syndrome fixes that could stop pain and potentially reverse symptoms. Using exercises, adjustments in diet and various vitamin and herbal supplements CTS may be alleviated.

Always talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any of the below symptoms.

What to Look For

Rochester Regional Health System offers this list of CTS symptoms,

• Difficulty gripping objects with the hand(s)
• Pain and/or numbness in the hand(s)
• “Pins and needles” feeling in the fingers
• Swollen feeling in the fingers
• Burning or tingling in the fingers, the thumb and the index and middle fingers
• Difficulty making a fist

How it Might Happen

As mentioned above, work-related activities cover just about half of carpal tunnel symptoms. The most vulnerable occupations are computer workers, auto-mechanics, assembly line workers, massage therapists, musicians and carpenters.

Other causes may include,

• Bone disease
• Drastic blood sugar level changes
• Trauma
• Hormonal or metabolic changes such as pregnancy
• Nutritional deficiency
• High blood pressure
• Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis

Carpal Tunnel Fixes

One or more of these 7 carpal tunnel syndrome fixes could increase the longevity of your wrist health. Alert your doctor before taking any alternative remedies.

‘B’ Your Best – Deficiency in B-complex vitamins has been linked to possibly developing CTS. Clinical studies conducted by researchers at The University of Texas found vitamin B6 supplementation for those suffering from CTS to be beneficial.

Research leaders, naturopathic doctor Mark Stengler and James Balch, MD, recommend three 100 mg daily doses of vitamin B6 as well as one B complex supplement. Results could take up to three months to occur.

Calm the Flame – When the carpal tunnel is impinged the median nerve becomes stressed causing inflammation.

Use one or more of these natural herbal remedies to relieve inflammation:

• Turmeric
• Bromelain
• White Willow
• Chamomile
• Red Pepper
• Comfrey
• Cumin

Needle It – Actually, it’s hardly like invasive needles at all. Acupuncture has shown to be a highly effective treatment for CTS.

The Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran conducted a study of acupuncture for the treatment of CTS. Their results were published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (1/17/12) stating,

“Our findings indicated that the acupuncture can improve the overall subjective symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and could be adopted in comprehensive care programs of these patients.”

Mind Your Minerals – Some practitioners believe that increasing your magnesium and calcium intake could calm nerve firing as well as reduce muscle tightness.

Say No to Aspartame – One highly toxic sweetener is aspartame. Found in soda and other processed foods this synthetic additive has been linked to many adverse health conditions including CTS.

Lose the Extra Real Estate – From being mildly overweight to obesity, according to Peter Nathan, MD, a hand surgeon and carpal tunnel researcher at the Portland Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation Center,

“…heavy people have a tendency to accumulate more fluid in the soft tissues, including in the wrist.”

Get Flax – Flaxseeds are a great source of non-animal sourced Omega 3 fatty acids. They also contain alpha-linolenic acid which is linked to lowering inflammation causing prostaglandin as well as antioxidant, inflammation reducing lignans.

These 7 carpal tunnel syndrome fixes could be an excellent protocol if you are experiencing CTS symptoms or want to avoid the potential of developing this painful condition.