Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Are you suffering from numbness & tingling in your hands? It may not always be a vitamin B12 deficiency as what many social media influencers who try to sell a B12 supplement claim it to be. Your story may be much different; and the devil is in the details.

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4005-carpal-tunnel-syndrome

One of the most under-diagnosed condition is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which consists of the compression of a nerve called the Median Nerve.

The classic symptom: Patients report experiencing numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb and second, third, and radial portions of the fourth digits, which tend to worsen at night.

Many people diagnose themselves of deficiencies & end up splurging on expensive supplements instead of consulting a healthcare provider to get the problem evaluated.

Source: https://www.sunwaymedical.com/en/blogpost/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-our-hand-surgeons-insights-for-relief

Initially, symptoms are intermittent and associated with certain activities flipping pages of a book or when cooking or doing laundry. Symptoms that worsen at night indicate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, especially if the patient experiences relief by shaking the hand or wrist.

Can this become complicated?

Advanced disease may progress into permanent sensory loss, muscle weakness, clumsiness, and challenges in simple gross-motor activities like buttoning clothes. The dominant hand is typically affected initially.

Who are likely to have this problem?

• Dislocation or subluxation of the carpus

• Fractures or skewed consolidation of the distal radius

• inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis

• Acromegaly

• Cysts or tumors within the tunnel

• Pregnancy, Menopause (females are at a higher risk of developing this)

• Obesity

• Kidney failure

• Hypothyroidism

• Use of oral contraceptives

• Congestive heart failure

• Diabetes

• Alcoholism

• Vitamin deficiency or toxicity

What if it present in both hands?

In conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, acromegaly & hypothyroidism,

Treatment

The most common mode of treatment in modern medicine is glucocorticoid injection in the carpal tunnel (anatomical location where the median nerve is compressed), or even oral steroid if the issue persists chronically.

In Siddha medicine, apart from ruling out other differential diagnoses & advising our patients on a diet suitable for their condition, medicines & Varmam therapy (traditional form of osteopathic manipulation) may be indicated.