Your fingers, hand, and forearm may become numb or tingly if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. Relief may be obtained by stimulating particular pressure points with massage or acupuncture.
Hand and forearm pain, numbness, and tingling are frequent symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. It happens when the median nerve, which runs through your wrist and is the major nerve that supplies your hand, gets pinched or crushed.
Experts believe that this illness may be caused by several factors, including repeated hand use, genetics, and underlying medical issues.
While there are several carpal tunnel treatments available, ranging from physical therapy to surgery, some patients find comfort with non-traditional techniques like applying acupressure to pressure sites in the carpal tunnel.
The idea of carpal tunnel pressure points and the potential type of alleviation will be discussed in this article.
Pressure points for carpal tunnel relief
The body has pressure points, which are specific nerve centres that can influence different body parts or help relieve specific health concerns when stimulated or rubbed. Acupressure for carpal tunnel syndrome aims to alleviate symptoms by stimulating pressure points on the hand, wrist, and arm.
Among the more typical pressure locations for carpal tunnel syndrome are:
- PC6 (Inner Frontier Gate or Neiguan): on the inside of the forearm, roughly three finger widths away from the wrist crease. Stimulating this spot has been shown to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms as well as discomfort, nausea, and neuromuscular disease symptoms.
- PC7 (Daling point): This pressure point, which is situated halfway between the tendons at the wrist crease, can be stimulated to produce hormones that may enhance motor performance and relieve carpal tunnel syndrome.
- LI4 (Hegu): This pressure point, which is situated on the back of the hand between the thumb and index finger, is well-known for its ability to reduce pain and inflammation.
- LI5 (Yangxi): It is the indentation between the tendons of the wrist muscles, and it is situated on the radial side of the wrist. This pressure point is helpful for toothaches, ear pain, and stiff fingers in addition to wrist pain.
- TB5 (Waiguan): Applying pressure here, which is two finger widths from the wrist crease on the back of the wrist, can assist lessen pain in the hands, wrists, and elbow. This point may also help with headaches and migraine symptoms.
These pressure points can be manually massaged (acupressure) or stimulated during acupuncture to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome.
How to massage carpal tunnel pressure points
The most beneficial massages for carpal tunnel syndrome are from skilled therapists. The following procedures are typically involved in this type of acupressure:
- Locate the pressure point.
- Using your thumb, apply hard pressure on the pressure point.
- After applying pressure for around 30 seconds, release it.
- Stretch and massage the entire region.
Using the numerous carpal tunnel pressure locations, repeat this treatment as necessary. Using a gua sha stone or other such massage instrument could also be beneficial.
Can acupuncture bring relief from carpal tunnel?
An acupuncturist inserts extremely fine needles into your skin at specific pressure points during acupuncture, an alternative form of treatment. It is said that these needles might help reduce your symptoms and restore the qi (energy) in your body.
When administered by a qualified practitioner, acupuncture may be a useful substitute for pharmaceutical treatments for patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.
According to research, acupuncture therapy is a safe therapeutic option with little chance of side effects and can provide long-lasting relief from carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.
How do I get instant relief from carpal tunnel?
These do-it-yourself techniques, in addition to pressure point therapy, may provide quick, transient relief from carpal tunnel symptoms:
- elevating your hands and wrists
- warming up your hands
- keeping your wrists in a neutral position
- relaxing your grip
- exercising your wrist and stretching
- taking breaks from repetitive tasks
- using ice on the affected wrist
- trying over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication
Other treatments for carpal tunnel
Apart from acupuncture and acupressure, conventional therapies for carpal tunnel syndrome encompass:
- using wrist braces, particularly at night
- trying physical therapy
- getting corticosteroid injections
- undergoing carpal tunnel release surgery
- changing your work environment
- taking anti-inflammatory medications
To find the right course of treatment for you, consult your doctor.
Takeaway
The daily functioning of your life might be greatly impacted by carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel pressure point therapy may be beneficial if you have mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, even if doctors may advise medication, splinting, and surgical therapies.
This kind of acupressure may help treat carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms by focusing on particular pressure points connected to the hand and wrist. Your chances of receiving pressure point massage therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome may improve if you see a skilled massage therapist.
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