carpal tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common conditions affecting the hand. It is a condition characterized by tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands or wrists. The conventional treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is surgery which comes with long recovery times and can result in long-term weakness. Acupuncture is a wonderful alternative to surgery as it is a non-invasive and drug-free option that is highly effective for reducing the pain and inflammation associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. At Gotham Holistic Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, our professional acupuncturist in New York City is skilled at creating a personalized acupuncture treatment plan for her patients that will focus on their needs to ensure the area of concern is addressed.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? 

Imagine you have a bracelet inside of your wrist, through which nine ligaments and a nerve passes through. Normally, space for this nerve is maintained as you move and flex the wrist. However, with repeated flexing or overuse of the wrist, inflammation and other changes can occur which cause pressure within the bracelet and compression on the nerve.

This is a rough visual of what happens with carpal tunnel syndrome. Also called median nerve compression, this syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve. Your carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of your hand that is surrounded by bones and ligaments, through which the median nerve passes. When this nerve becomes compressed, this can result in pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness of the arm and hand. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome can feel very debilitating to some, especially those whose work requires repetitive flexing of the wrist. Causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include overuse of the forearm and hands, particularly when repetitive flexing of the wrist is involved. Long hours of working on a keyboard or using a mouse are common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Others that have jobs that require repetitive flexing of the wrist include hairstylists, musicians, janitors, painters, cashiers, massage therapists, radiologists, dental hygienists, and mechanics, just to name a few examples. In some cases, prior injuries to the arm or wrist as well as other underlying health issues can also contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel: The Benefits

If you’ve been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome there are a few recommendations you may have received. Conventional treatments include rest, wrist braces, physical therapy, oral and topical pain-killers, and surgery. Rest is great but if your job makes it impossible to take a break from the movements that are contributing to your pain, it may not be desirable or even possible. Surgery also requires taking a long break; anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months to recover. Additionally, surgery comes with its own risks including long-term weakness as a result of the permanent changes made to the wrist during surgery. Acupuncture, on the other hand, does not require you to rest during or after treatment, and unlike painkillers (which carry side effects), acupuncture works with your body to trigger the release of powerful natural painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents to provide meaningful relief. We’ve worked with a number of patients that came to us in a last-ditch attempt to fix their pain, with a scheduled surgery on the horizon. We’re happy to report that all of our carpal tunnel syndrome patients achieved pain relief and were able to cancel their surgery. Some of the benefits that come with using acupuncture to relieve the pain in your hands and wrists include: 

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome With Acupuncture in New York City

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome and are looking for an effective, non-invasive treatment with no recovery time, acupuncture could be the solution you are looking for. Come experience a different kind of medicine, only at Gotham Holistic Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine in New York City. Our professional and knowledgeable acupuncturist is backed by years of experience helping patients overcome their carpal tunnel syndrome related pain. To begin your journey to pain relief, book your appointment online today! 

Sources and Studies on Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

1. Dale AM, Harris-Adamson C, Rempel D, Gerr F, Hegmann K, Silverstein B, Burt S, Garg A, Kapellusch J, Merlino L, Thiese MS, Eisen EA, Evanoff B. Prevalence and incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in US working populations: pooled analysis of six prospective studies. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2013 Sep 1;39(5):495-505. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3351. Epub 2013 Feb 19. PMID: 23423472; PMCID: PMC4042862.
2. Maeda Y, Kim H, Kettner N, Kim J, Cina S, Malatesta C, Gerber J, McManus C, Ong-Sutherland R, Mezzacappa P, Libby A, Mawla I, Morse LR, Kaptchuk TJ, Audette J, Napadow V. Rewiring the primary somatosensory cortex in carpal tunnel syndrome with acupuncture. Brain. 2017 Apr 1;140(4):914-927. doi: 10.1093/brain/awx015. PMID: 28334999; PMCID: PMC5837382.
3. Ural FG, Öztürk GT. The Acupuncture Effect on Median Nerve Morphology in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: An Ultrasonographic Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:7420648. doi: 10.1155/2017/7420648. Epub 2017 Jun 6. PMID: 28676832; PMCID: PMC5476875.