Dear Reader,
Fact or myth? Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by repetitive movements of the hand and wrist.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there is little clinical data to prove that repetitive movements cause CTS. Of course, that only means it's not yet proven. I know that after finishing up an e-Alert the backs of my hands sometimes feel sore. Nothing serious, but there's no doubt that I've given my median nerve a workout.
The median nerve runs from the forearm into the hand, protected by a tunnel of ligament and bones at the base of the hand. When this tunnel is narrowed by inflammation, the median nerve is compressed, causing hand, wrist and arm pain. In some cases the problem stems from a carpal tunnel that's too narrow, or a wrist injury may also prompt compression. Other triggers include hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause.
In the most serious CTS cases surgery may be the only solution. In milder cases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics and corticosteroids may help relieve pain associated with swelling. But an HSI member named Elva wants to know if there are alternatives. She writes: "Do you have anything to recommend for the relief of the pain and the swelling of carpal tunnel?"
After looking through previous e-Alerts I've found several tips that may help Elva and others avoid drug use or surgery.
-------------------------------------------- The fluid factor --------------------------------------------
In the e-Alert "B+" (5/17/05), I told you how levels of vitamin B-6 that exceed the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 2 mg for men and 1.6 mg for women may help prevent colorectal cancer.
In that e-Alert HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., noted that he uses B- 6 as a diuretic in his practice. And he added: "For carpal tunnel syndrome (which is involved with interstitial fluid taking up too much space within the carpal tunnel of the wrist, resulting in pressure on the nerve and causing numbness, tingling, and pain), 90 days of B-6 treatment is often required for the symptoms to completely subside. Retained fluid in general, however, can start leaving the first night (and can be disconcerting to a person who's now urinating more than they know they've been drinking...the interstitial fluid is leaving)."
Dietary sources of B-6 include bananas, spinach, avocado, poultry, fish, meat and beans.
-------------------------------------------- From the silkworm --------------------------------------------
Serrapeptase is an anti-inflammatory enzyme produced in the body of silkworms and was featured in the e-Alert "Under Fire" (2/3/05). Researchers have tested serrapeptase's ability to ease inflammation disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, atherosclerosis and fluid retention conditions such as varicose veins.
At the SMS Medical College in Jaipur, India, researchers tested serrapeptase on 20 patients with carpal tunnel. Subjects were instructed to take 10 mg of serrapeptase twice each day for six weeks, and then return for reassessment. Sixty-five percent of the patients showed significant improvements, and no adverse side effects were reported.
Serrapeptase can be found through many Internet sources and at health food stores. But this natural enzyme may impact anticoagulant therapy and other medications, so talk to your doctor before taking serrapeptase. -------------------------------------------- Going deep --------------------------------------------
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, some patients report that acupuncture and chiropractic treatments relieve CTS symptoms. Research has also shown that that yoga effectively reduces CTS pain and improves grip strength in some cases.
A more controversial treatment is prolotherapy; a method that prompts the body to heal damaged ligaments and tendons. In prolotherapy, a solution of simple compounds (usually dextrose or calcium carbonate) is injected at the point of injury. This triggers an inflammation response that increases the blood supply and delivers nutrients necessary to promote the growth of new cells and repair damaged connective tissue.
This procedure is a little expensive, but it's a bargain compared to surgery. Health problems sometimes treated with prolotheraphy include: carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis; tendonitis, fibromyalgia, knee injuries, torn tendons and cartilage, degenerated or herniated discs, and even migraine headaches.
For more information about prolotherapy, see the e-Alert "Crash Test Dummy" (4/2/03). This e-Alert, and all the others mentioned here, can be easily found on our web site at hsibaltimore.com.
...and another thing
UK scientists believe they may have uncovered an important clue to the mystery of multiple sclerosis.
According to new research from Britain's Keele University, excessive exposure to aluminum may be associated with multiple sclerosis risk. This is reportedly the first evidence of such a link.
The Keele team found that MS patients tended to have extremely high urinary excretion of aluminum, particularly among patients who have the relapsing-remitting form of MS. About one-quarter of MS patients fall into this category, which is characterized by relapses of existing symptoms, sometimes accompanied by new symptoms, followed by further periods of remission and relapses.
Lead researcher, Dr. Christopher Exley, told Medical News Today that "elevated excretion of aluminum suggests that exposure to aluminum may be the hitherto unrecognized environmental factor in MS."
Aluminum is a natural component of food and water, but aluminum intake increases sharply with the use of certain cosmetics, antiperspirants and toothpastes. Processed foods such as cake mixes, pickled vegetables, baking powders and processed cheeses also may contain aluminum, as do some over-the-counter medications such as buffered aspirin and antacids.
And to top it all off, animal studies have shown that a regular intake of fluoride (which most of us get through our drinking water, like it or not) enhances the body's absorption of aluminum.
To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/freecopy.html http://www.healthiernews.com
