TCM treatment of tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis is a relatively common disease that often occurs in the fingers and wrists. When tenosynovitis occurs, it often causes snapping fingers or trigger fingers. There are many causes of tenosynovitis, such as overwork, sports injuries, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine is relatively effective in treating tenosynovitis. If it is more serious, you should pay attention to conditioning in daily life. In addition, acupuncture, massage, and drug treatment are all better methods.

TCM treatment of tenosynovitis

1. Daily life regimen

First of all, we must try to eliminate or reduce the primary cause of the disease, such as changing certain types of work (mechanical repetitive finger and wrist movements, such as packaging work), changing bad habits (such as snapping fingers, etc.), avoiding holding children or objects for long periods of time, wringing clothes, etc. If you cannot change jobs, you should also make sure to rest your wrists after working for a period of time, do self-massage and hand therapy exercises, etc. In addition, after suffering from this disease, you should pay attention to avoid cold water stimulation to avoid aggravating the symptoms, and actively cooperate with other conditioning methods.

2. Psychological conditioning

Use self-suggestion to clear the way. The patient can take any posture, calm his mind, close his eyes and meditate, and feel the Qi and blood surging in the meridians, which are stimulated from the fingertips and forearms to the affected area, gradually eliminating the blockage, allowing Qi and blood to flow smoothly, without pain, and local pain to be reduced or even disappear. The finger and wrist joints can also move flexibly and conveniently. At the same time, you will feel that a large number of blood cells are gathering in the affected area, the inflammation is gradually suppressed and eliminated, and the swelling gradually disappears.

(III) Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy

1. Acupuncture

Acupoints: Ashi point (tender point), Yangxi, Lieque, and Hegu.

Acupuncture method: Ashi is the main point. During acupuncture, 2 to 4 needles are inserted in all directions from this point. The Yangxi acupoint can be pierced vertically 0.3 to 1 inch, and there will be a local feeling of soreness and swelling. When needling the Lieque point, the needle tip points outward and the needle is inserted 0.5 to 1 cun, causing a local sore and swollen feeling. The Hegu point is pierced vertically 0.5 to 1 cun, or the needle tip can be inserted obliquely toward the fingers or wrist (depending on the location of the lesion). The needle sensation (soreness, swelling, numbness, and electric sensation) may radiate to the fingertips, wrist, or forearm.

Acupuncture is performed once a day or every other day, and 10 times constitute a course of treatment.

2. Auricular acupressure

Acupoints: corresponding parts of the ear, Shenmen, and subcortical.

Method: Routinely disinfect both auricles and apply pressure on the selected acupoints with fenugreek seed paste. Massage twice a day, 3 to 5 minutes each time. Change every 5 days.

3. Ginger moxibustion

Acupoint selection: Ashi point is the main point. The acupoints that can be used are Lieque, Yangxi, Yangchi, Wangu and Hegu.

Method: Take fresh ginger and cut it into 0.3 mm thick slices, and place them on the acupuncture points; twist several cone-shaped moxa cones, place them on the ginger slices and light them, select 2 to 3 acupuncture points each time, and apply 5 to 7 moxibustions on each acupuncture point, 1 to 2 times a day, and 5 times as a course of treatment.

After moxibustion, you can cover the local area with sterilized gauze to prevent infection.

If the tendon sheath is severely narrowed and the fibrous degeneration is obvious, and acupuncture treatments are ineffective, surgical release may be performed.