3 keys to Addressing Carpal Tunnel syndrome before you ever see a Hand Surgeon

If you have (or think you have) carpal tunnel syndrome, before you actually make the commitment to visit a hand specialist for medical or surgical intervention, you might want to consider these three important points.

If you address these, it may not mean that you will cure yourself of your carpal tunnel syndrome, but it may mean that whatever treatments that are undertaken will work better because you have addressed some of the real underlying causes behind your hand pain.

1. Nutrition (Diet & Lifestyle): Above all, if you have carpal tunnel syndrome make sure that you are taking care of yourself in terms of nutritional and fitness perspective. This can mean that if you are overweight and suffering from pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome, you should address these conditions before undergoing treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel surgery has a much greater chance of not working for patient who has underlying health issues such as obesity related illnesses like diabetes than a person who is otherwise healthy and not suffering from these conditions. As many know, I write a lot about health and nutrition, as I think it is in many cases the best way to address obesity, diabetes, and other related diseases. In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, your symptoms can lessen or even go away in some cases if you can lose weight and treat you diabetes. Likewise, you don't need to be 'sick' by any stretch of the imagination. If you are overworked, stressed, and not exercising, you may be 'healthy' but the reality is your healthy is declining and not improving. Take the steps necessary to improve your health, and in many cases you will find that all of the strange aches and pains, including the ones in your hands, will many times simply go away.

2. Specific Nutritional Deficiencies: Other nutritional deficiencies are equally important to consider. For instance, it is well known that B vitamin deficiency is associated with nerve dysfunction also known as neuropathy. This type of vitamin deficiency is not widespread in our society because many cereals and breads are fortified with B vitamins. That being said, there are certain conditions which can cause an otherwise healthy person not to absorb the vitamins correctly. And symptoms mimicking carpal tunnel syndrome may be also present. In this particular case, carpal tunnel surgery would provide little or no benefit compared to proper nutritional supplementation. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also becoming more and more common in our society, so it might be important to get your levels checked and perhaps even get an injection. I am one of the few hand surgeons that actually checks Vitamin B12 levels for patients I suspect have the deficiency, and give injections to help treat this condition.  Other nutritional deficiencies are equally important to consider. May people often benefit from added Coenzyme Q10 in their diet, either through supplementation or the intake of organ meats, as well as sulfur in the form of supplements like MSM, or sulfur rich foods like eggs. 

• Are there natural remedies for Carpal Tunnel syndrome? This a tricky question because it is important to note that I am suggesting that it is important to always be nutritionally optimized above all else, which is probably the most natural cure available, ie keep yourself healthy. You can not expect to take chondroitin, glucosamine, or anything else you can buy over the counter if you are not eating right, sleeping right, exercising,  sitting correctly at your workstation, wearing gloves, taking breaks, etc. Like I have said, if you have diabetes and you don’t take care of it, the best surgery will not provide the results you want or need.  Likewise, if you want the best result you can, and maybe even avoid surgery, then it is important to focus on your health and nutrition as the first, best, and only ‘natural’ remedy.

3. Treat your Diabetes!: If you are diabetic, specifically if you are suffering from type II diabetes or metabolic syndrome, it is important to discuss with your doctor how to treat these conditions first before surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is considered. High blood sugar levels affect the nerves by causing them to swell under the influence of high glucose levels in the blood. The nerves can either become damaged or pinched in places like the carpal tunnels because they are swollen, or what we call edematous.

The rates of Type II diabetes is skyrocketing in the US and around the world, and most of the type II diabetics in our society are both overweight and sedentary. In many cases, exercise along with dietary modification (which results in not only weight loss but the gaining of lean muscle mass) can go a long way in mitigating or even curing type II diabetes. This can also result in the lessening of carpal tunnel pain, and in some cases, carpal tunnel syndrome may even be cured.

Likewise, metabolic syndrome is a very similar condition which is characterized by such things as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, poor lipid profile, obesity, and insulin resistance. I consider pre-diabetes, and so do many other doctors who treat the condition frequently. 

It can be treated effectively with an exercise regimen and dietary modification under the guidance of a skilled professional, especially one who is comfortable with the application of diets that are low in carbohydrates. 

I cannot stress enough the importance of proper nutrition and exercise in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. In my view, it is an essential step which is often overlooked. Otherwise, the most fancy and expensive treatment, and the highest quality care is simply a very pretty (and expensive) band aid that does not address the critical physiology and anatomy that results in the disease process. 
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Dr. Ostric is a board certified plastic surgeon and hand specialist who practices in Chicago, IL. He has treated thousands of patients with carpal tunnel with excellent results. Call today for your evaluation. Many insurances are accepted, and Dr. Ostric offers competitive financing plans as well.