Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Table of Contents
If your hand goes numb and wakes you up at night — Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve, which passes through the carpal tunnel of the wrist, is compressed, causing numbness and pain in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. It is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome in Korea, occurring especially in women aged 40–60.
Why the median nerve gets compressed
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage surrounded by the carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament. Inside this tunnel, the median nerve passes alongside nine flexor tendons. When pressure rises within the tunnel, the most fragile structure — the median nerve — is the first to be compressed.
- Repetitive use: Repeated wrist flexion and extension swell the tendon sheaths and increase pressure inside the tunnel
- Hormonal changes: Pregnancy, hypothyroidism, and menopause worsen the condition through tissue edema
- Diagnostic tests: Phalen's test (numbness reproduced when the wrist is held in flexion for 60 seconds), Tinel's sign (electrical sensation when tapping over the carpal tunnel)
Nighttime symptoms are characteristic
During sleep, the wrist often flexes unconsciously, raising pressure inside the carpal tunnel even further. Waking up in the early morning with a numb, painful hand is the classic pattern. Shaking or flicking the hand temporarily relieves symptoms.
Korean medicine treatment strategy
Acupuncture promotes blood flow around the carpal tunnel and relieves nerve compression. Pharmacopuncture directly resolves swelling and inflammation in the tendon sheaths, and a night wrist splint prevents wrist flexion during sleep.
- Acupuncture: Stimulates Daling (PC7), Neiguan (PC6), and Yuji (LU10) to improve circulation around the median nerve
- Pharmacopuncture: Anti-inflammatory herbs are injected adjacent to the carpal tunnel to reduce sheath swelling
- Night splint: Keeps the wrist in a neutral position during sleep to prevent nighttime symptoms
- Herbal medicine: Blood-activating herbs such as Dang-gui and Cheon-gung improve peripheral circulation and support nerve nutrition
If left untreated, muscle atrophy can occur
In the early stage there is only numbness and pain, but if neglected for a long time, the thenar muscles at the base of the thumb atrophy and grip strength weakens. At that stage recovery becomes difficult, so early treatment is important.