How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve is compressed due to increased pressure in the carpal tunnel, which leads to numbness in the fingers. The treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is usually based on surgery, followed by auxiliary treatments such as acupuncture and medication. The treatment process of carpal tunnel syndrome is very slow, so patients need to be mentally prepared. Before the carpal tunnel syndrome is cured, do not use too much force on your wrist.

Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the Eyes of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a hand disease that has gradually come into people's attention in recent years. There are many inducing factors in life, such as excessive use of computers and mobile phones, and even work that frequently uses the hands, which may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

After removing the external fixator, you can use Baxian Xiaoyao Decoction to fumigate and wash the affected hand.

Traditional Chinese Medicine 1. Oral medicine: Mainly for relaxing muscles and tendons and activating collaterals, Dahuo Luo Pills can be used.

2. External medication: You can apply Baozhen ointment or Wanying ointment.

For acupuncture, choose Yangxi, Waiguan, Hegu, Laogong and other acupoints. Leave the needles in for 15 minutes after getting qi, and do it once every other day. It can also be reduced or increased depending on the condition of the disease.

If the disease is caused by sprain, bruise or strain, massage can be used to relax the muscles and tendons and promote blood circulation. The operator can press and massage the patient's Waiguan, Yangxi, Yuji, Hegu, Laogong and pain points with the palm of the thumb or index finger or fingertips, and then slowly rotate the affected hand under slight extension to flex and extend the wrist joint. Then stretch out 1, 2, 3, and 4 fingers in turn, until a snapping sound is produced.

Carpal tunnel syndrome precautions

(1) During treatment, avoid exerting force on the wrist and avoiding cold.

(2) For patients whose disease is caused by fracture or dislocation, massage treatment should be considered after the fracture heals and the joint is reduced.

(III) During the treatment, extension traction and passive movement of the wrist joint should be performed, but forceful and violent movements should be avoided to avoid new injuries.

(IV) If the disease is caused by endocrine disorders, treatment should be combined with the cause.

(V) Ask the patient to perform functional exercises, making circles with the thumb and fingers in turn and pressing the second section of each finger with the thumb to promote functional recovery.

[note]

Some people have suggested that 84% of patients with this disease are women, especially middle-aged and elderly women. Changes in hormone levels, repetitive compulsive arm movements, constant improper wrist positions, and other various factors have been implicated in the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. It should be noted that many patients' discomfort is not confined to the median nerve distribution, and sensory testing is highly variable and not completely reliable. Electrophysiological examination showed selective abnormalities in sensory and motor conduction of the median nerve in the distal wrist. Therefore, it is believed that the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome should be based on medical history, neurological examination and the results of electrophysiological examination.

Pathological studies have found that the number of myelinated fibers of the median nerve under the transverse carpal ligament is significantly reduced. Slowed conduction of sensory and motor fibers of the median nerve below the wrist is a typical manifestation of this disease.

Is surgery necessary for carpal tunnel syndrome?

Many people think of carpal tunnel syndrome when they mention mouse hand. First of all, we need to correct a misunderstanding: mouse hand is not equal to carpal tunnel syndrome. There are many causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as trauma, unhealed fractures, tumors, etc. And excessive mouse use is only one of the reasons. From a clinical perspective, most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by excessive use of the mouse do not require surgery, but carpal tunnel syndrome caused by other reasons, especially those caused by tumors, must be solved by surgery. The wrist pain or abnormal sensation caused by what we call mouse hand can be completely avoided and controlled as long as you pay attention when using the mouse.

Therefore, if you experience symptoms such as wrist pain or finger numbness, it is best to go to a specialist hospital for a systematic examination to rule out other causes. If it is indeed caused by excessive use of the mouse, in the early stages of pain, you can soak your wrist joints in hot water every night, with the water temperature being within your tolerance. In this way, under the action of heat, the tense ligaments and joint capsules can be relaxed as much as possible, while the edema of the local tissues of the carpal tunnel can be reduced to delay the further development of lesions and symptoms.

If you experience hand weakness, it is best to go to the hospital for an electromyography examination. You can also get a blocking injection to relieve local synovial edema and reduce pain. At the same time, nerve nourishing drugs are used to improve the nutritional status of nerves. If the symptoms are severe, especially if muscle atrophy occurs or the symptoms do not improve for a long time, you will inevitably have to undergo surgery. This is just a minor operation and you can usually be discharged from the hospital in one to two weeks.

It should be noted that there are many types of mice on the market with different sizes. When choosing, it is not the case that a large mouse is suitable for a large hand or a small mouse is suitable for a small hand. The most important thing is to choose one that feels comfortable. When using a mouse, you may want to add a mouse pad to support your wrist. Every time you use the mouse for about half an hour, you must exercise your wrist, such as scratching or shaking your hand.