Carpel tunnel?

[Pompal 09.]

My partner is getting numbness in his hands, it has lasted a few days now. At times he has nearly no sensation at all, he mentioned carpel tunnel, is this possible?
I am a massage therapist/aromatherapist, can i help him?
All my reference books are at work and i am home for the next week so have no access to them.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[dayu]

Do you mean hand? If he is getting numbness in both hands it is not Carpal Tunnel. I would refer him to an osteopath or doctor.

 

[Gold Hat]

is it when he awakes or all through the day?

It is likely to be some nerve impingement as in my experience thats when i have encountered it mostly.

But if it lasts longer than a few days I would get it checked out by maybe a doctor/chiropractor or osteopath, expecially the chiro and osteo as they would specialise in the pathways of nerves.


reply with the frequency of it, i am interested to know

 

[AAM]

Apply to wrists 3d cypress, 1d peppermint, 2d marjoram, 3d lemongrass, 3d wintergreen (yes! wintergreen) May apply pure oils neat otherwise dilute 50% in carrier oil.

 

[rodney c]

What's your diagnosis? Just out of interest!!

 

[KeeJacauia]

i had test for carpal tunnel a few years back.

You go for a test and they attach little pads to your hands and check the nerves are not blocked.

With CT you tend to get pins and needles and some numbness too. But it doesnt seem to be constant, it usually comes and goes . but then everyone can have different symptoms.

To be honest they didnt know what was wrong wiht mine so put it down to RSI.

I get very heavy/painful wrist, then i get the numb feeling and loose the power in my hand for a few seconds, sometimes the grip goes completely and i can not even hold a bottle in my hand or twist off a cap. I also get a kind of muscle spasm and my hand closes up. very strange indeed.

Id say for carpal tunnel massage may not help. i had a massage the other week and the girl really worked my wrists, and it felt wonderful during the massage but afterward for the next few days i was in a lot of pain.
My mum has had operations on both wrists for this and it has not worked.

i think a doctors visit would be best.

 

[IToriAB]

the symptoms sound the same as my husband suffered, he was diagnosed with CT
unfortunatly it was before I became a therapist so he had to have the op on both hands, although not at the same time

2 of my friends have been diagnosed with CT and were waiting to see a specialist but with massage I have managed to releive the symptoms to such an extent that their GPs have said they are no longer suffering from CT and dont need to see the specialist. With one of them I only massaged her hands, not a full massage

try a thorough hand and wrist massage (every eve/day if you can)
obviously if it hurts then dont do it but I would hope I didnt need to point that out to another therapist - before anyone else jumps on me

hope he feels better soon

HG

 

[love and peace]

I was diagnosed with CT last year (I am also a Massage Therapst) and there is a thread here somewhere regarding this.

I had approx 6 sessions with a Chiropractor, who worked on releasing from the neck down, also massage on my fore arm (which does hurt like hell, but is well worth it) and a small amount of ultra sound, and after about 6 weeks, I can honestly say that I felt like a new woman!!

My Doctor was very keen for me to have the release operation, and I am so glad I tried alternatives. I know now not to overdo it, I will not massage more than 5 people in a day and am careful to massage my own forearms frequently. I still get the occasional twinge in my wrist and the heaviness if I am not careful.

Worth a try.

Karen

 

[mahdi]

Hi Mad Monk,

No diagnosis, as I am not qualified to do so, however this blend would be used for carpel tunnel should that be the cause of the pain.

 

[sanjit_life]

Hi croydon
for carpal tunnel problems I always release the muscles around the thoracic/cervicle area first.
Scalenes, Lavators pec minor ect all muscles in the first rib/clavicle area as this will help rule out nerve inpingment followed by stretching.
Then gentle stripping for forearm extensors and flexors.
steve

 

[Tralualty]

I'm with Stephen... check and treat for impingement of brachial plexus at the level of the scalenes, pec minor etc first.

Alsoa solid test for CTS is Phalen's Test...
[link=http://courses.washington.edu/hubio553/glossary/phalen.html]http://courses.washington.edu/hubio553/glossary/phalen.html[/link]

My CTS treatment protocol is to release the muscles of the thenar and hypothenar eminence, flexor carpi ulnarisand palmar longus which attach to the flexor retinaculum (transverse carpal ligament). Perform myofascial release on the ligament itself. Then lots of MET on the flexor tendons of the thumb, forefinger and middle finger. All done very gently and within the client's discomfort (not pain) threshold.

Also check for trigger points in pronator teres.

Hard to quantify but normally aim for about 6-8 sessions to get the client painfree.

Henry

 

[Tay C]

I agree with Steve and Henry. The earlier thread which Karen referred to is [link=http://www.healthypages.net/forum/fb.asp?m=348884&key=carpal%2Ctunnel]Carpal Tunnel Syndrome [/link]

Regards

Alan

 

[legalsteroidsu]

Hi Croydon,

You've had some great advice there, particularlythe importance of assessing and releasing any possible causes of nerve impingement proximal to the carpal tunnel as you can't be sure this is the definite cause of the problem.

I hope you are able to help your partner to a speedy recovery.

Adam