Carpal Tunnel Treatment:
5 tips for pain and symptom management beyond physiotherapy
We see overuse injuries on a daily basis at the clinic, with carpal tunnel syndrome being one of the most common.
As its name suggests, carpal tunnel syndrome is the entrapment or "squeezing" of the median nerve at the level of the wrist. This can manifest as numbness, weakness, and shooting pain in the affected hand.
Physiotherapy is the front-line conservative therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, a recent study in 100 women with the condition found that physiotherapy is as effective as surgery for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.[1]
However, a common misconception is that physiotherapy is the only conservative therapy that can help the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. There are in fact many other natural approaches for symptom reduction that may help alongside physio:
Acupuncture. Weekly acupuncture sessions (16 sessions over 8 weeks, to be exact) have been found to improve median nerve function and elicit measurable improvements in brain areas in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome.[2]
Anti-inflammatory foods. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids - like chia, flaxseeds, walnuts, and fatty fish (in moderation) - may help reduce inflammation if there is swelling at the wrist.
Topical flaxseed oil. Applying topical flaxseed oil on the wrist twice daily was found to improve severity of symptoms and functional status in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome, compared to placebo.[3]
Shock wave therapy. Shock-wave therapy consists of abrupt, high amplitude pulses of mechanical energy that is similar to sound waves. This therapy is showing promise in preliminary trials, specifically in relieving pain and disability in those with the condition - and providing effect long after the treatment (an important benefit).[4]
Vitamin B6. This option isn't at the top of my list but I feel it is worth mentioning. Reviews/studies of vitamin B6 are inconclusive, as some have found benefit but not others. However, supplementing with vitamin B6 may decrease symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome in people who are B6 deficient. A B6 deficiency is not common, but may be seen in specific conditions like alcoholism, malabsorption, and induced by some pharmaceutical drugs.
Dr. Dominique Vanier is a registered naturopath in Burlington with a clinical focus on digestion and women’s hormones. Naturopath Burlington. This article is for information purposes only. It is not intended to treat or diagnose any health conditions.
References
[1] Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., Cleland, J., Palacios-Ceña, M., Fuensalida-Novo, S., Pareja, J. and Alonso-Blanco, C. (2017). The Effectiveness of Manual Therapy Versus Surgery on Self-reported Function, Cervical Range of Motion, and Pinch Grip Force in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 47(3), pp.151-161.
[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, L., Kaptchuk, T., Audette, J. and Napadow, V. (2017). Rewiring the primary somatosensory cortex in carpal tunnel syndrome with acupuncture. Brain, 140(4), pp.914-927.
[3] Hashempur, M., Homayouni, K., Ashraf, A., Salehi, A., Taghizadeh, M. and Heydari, M. (2014). Effect of Linum usitatissimum L. (linseed) oil on mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 22(1), p.43.
[4] Wu, Y., Ke, M., Chou, Y., Chang, C., Lin, C., Li, T., Shih, F. and Chen, L. (2015). Effect of radial shock wave therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 34(6), pp.977-984.