Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to pain, paresthesias, and muscle weakness in the forearm and hand. A form of peripheral neuropathy, CTS is more common in women than it is in men, and, though it can occur at any age, has a peak incidence around age 42. The lifetime risk for CTS is around 10% of the adult population.
The first symptoms of CTS may appear when sleeping, and typically include numbness and paresthesia (a burning and tingling sensation in the fingers, especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers). These symptoms appear at night because many people sleep with bent wrists which further compresses the carpal tunnel. If the median nerve is already under stress, the increased compression of the bent wrist creates the numbness and tingling. Difficulty gripping and making a fist, dropping objects, and weakness are symptoms of progression. In early stages of CTS individuals often mistakenly blame the tingling and numbness on restricted blood circulation and they believe their hands are simply "falling asleep".
It is important to note that unless numbness or paresthesia are among the predominant symptoms, it is unlikely the symptoms are primarily caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. In effect, pain of any type, location, or severity with the absence of significant numbness or paresthesia is not likely to fall under this diagnosis.
|
Remedy |
Characteristics Symptoms |
Patient Worse by |
Patient Better by |
| Rhus Tox | Affections of fibrous tissue markedly-joints,
tendons, sheaths-aponeurosis, etc, producing pains and stiffness Post-operative complications Tearing asunder pains. Motion always "limbers up" the Rhus patient, and hence he feels better for a time from a change of position Ailments from strains, over lifting, getting wet while perspiring Loss of power in forearm and fingers; crawling sensation in the tips of fingers Hot, painful swelling of joints. Pains tearing in tendons, ligaments, and fascić Soreness of condyles of bones Numbness and formication, after overwork and exposure Want of appetite for any kind of food, with unquenchable thirst. Bitter taste Desire for milk Great thirst, with dry mouth and throat. Drowsy after eating Menses early, profuse, and prolonged, acrid Dreams of great exertion Heavy sleep, as from stupor Sleepless before midnight |
During sleep Cold, wet rainy weather and after rain At night During rest Drenching When lying on back or right side |
Warm, dry weather Motion Walking Change of position Rubbing Warm applications From stretching out limbs. |
| Paris Quadrifolia | Arm becomes stiff, fingers clenched Fingers often feel numb Numbness of upper limbs Everything feels rough Sensation of expansion and consequent tension Coldness of right side of body, left hot. Disorder of sense of touch. Soreness of top of head; cannot brush hair |
||
| Thuja Occidentalis | Sycotic pains, i.e, tearing in muscles and joints,
worse at rest, better in dry weather, worse damp humid atmosphere; lameness Hydrogenoid constitutions, whose blood is morbidly hydroscopic, so that damp air and water are inimical Complaints from moonlight Rapid exhaustion and emaciation Left-sided and chilly medicine Tips of fingers swollen, red, feel dead Muscular twitchings, weakness and trembling Cracking in joints Complete loss of appetite Dislike for fresh meat and potatoes Rancid eructations after fat food |
At night From heat of bed At 3 am and 3 pm From cold, damp air After breakfast Fat Coffee Vaccination |
Left side While drawing up a limb |
| Apis Mellifica | Swelling or puffing up of various parts, dema,
red rosy hue, stinging pains, soreness, intolerance of heat, and slightest
touch, and afternoon aggravation are some of the general guiding symptoms Extreme sensitiveness to touch and general soreness is marked Constricted sensations Sensation of stiffness and as of something torn off in the interior of the body Much prostration. Numbness of hands and tips of fingers Awkward; drops things readily Thirstless Craving for milk |
Heat in any form Touch Pressure Late in afternoon After sleeping In closed and heated rooms Right side |
In open air Uncovering Cold bathing |