There is a way to recover from carpal tunnel naturally. A staggering 400 million people worldwide struggle with carpal tunnel syndrome. So, how do you recover from such a widespread issue?
What are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
You might notice a sharp, aching, or burning pain in your hand, wrist, or fingers, all your fingers except your pinky.
While it sounds strange, your pinky finger does not experience the symptoms of carpal tunnel. The median nerve, directly affected by carpal tunnel, does not go to the pinky. The nerve only controls your thumb, index, middle finger, and part of your ring finger.
Some people experience worsening symptoms at night, disrupting their sleep and making mornings unbearable.
As the condition progresses, the hand weakens, making it more difficult to hold onto things or even open jars. Some people say their hands feel swollen even when they look fine.
Many patients experience any combination of these symptoms.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The median nerve runs from the spinal cord down to the hand. If it gets squeezed or pinched, it can cause pain, tingling, or weakness in the hand.
Imagine if a large man wearing cowboy boots steps on your bare foot and stays on it for hours. The continual pressure can cause lasting nerve damage. The same concept applies to your wrist. The constant pressure on the median nerve leads to pain, numbness, and weakness in your hand.
Research shows that traditional methods like surgery, medications, or bracing are relatively ineffective. Although medications help reduce swelling and inflammation, even medications like corticosteroids provide nothing more than a temporary bandaid. They do not address the nerve damage.
The same holds for bracing. It helps prevent prolonged stretch on the nerve at night but does not address the damaged nerve.
Some effective treatments include physical therapy with chiropractic care, specific exercises, and photobiomodulation (PBM).
PBM, in particular, has shown promising results in carpal tunnel recovery, especially from severe cases or post-surgical cases that have gone bad.
Research also shows that for the median nerve damage to recover, we must give the nerve specific nutrients. Otherwise, you might not fully recover from your symptoms, or your condition might return.
Recovery from Carpal Tunnel Naturally
Clinical studies have shown that several vital nutrients are needed to repair nerve damage and maintain the health of the median nerve.
B-Vitamins
You’ll need specific B vitamins: methylcobalamin (B12), benfotiamine (B1), and Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate (B6).
These B vitamins are essential for the repair and regeneration of the myelin sheath. They are also necessary for the appropriate speed and conduction of nerve impulses and play a role in nerve communication.
In some B6 studies, researchers used 100-200 mg of pyridoxine HCL for 2-3 months; however, we never recommend using this form of B6. A lot of other research shows that when used in high doses and when used long term, it can cause further nerve damage.
We always recommend the form of B6 called Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate (P5P). This form can be used for years at a very high dosage with no side effects or nerve damage.
R-Alpha Lipoic Acid
Studies also found that R-alpha lipoic acid has many beneficial effects on nerve recovery. Nerve injuries like compression cause tremendous oxidative damage, which causes elevated levels of inflammation.
R-alpha lipoic acid neutralizes free radicals to reduce oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and protects the nerves from further damage.
R-ALA also enhances blood flow, promoting oxygen and nutrient delivery to the median nerve. Furthermore, it supports mitochondrial function and stimulates nerve growth factors, helping with nerve regeneration.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Studies also highlighted acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR). The nutrient protects the nerves from further damage, acting as a shield for the nerve. It reduces damage caused by injury and prevents nerve cells from dying.
Acetyl-L-carnitine also protects sensory nerves and helps them recover. Sensory nerves create symptoms like numbness, tingling, and even pain in nerve damage. Furthermore, clinical studies show that acetyl-L-carnitine increases nerve regeneration, allowing the median nerve to replace damaged cells with healthy ones.
If you have seen our content on YouTube or read our other blogs, you may notice some overlap between our recommendations for nutrients for neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. That is not a coincidence.
The median nerve is a peripheral nerve requiring the same nutrients.
Vitamin D and Omega-3
Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids are key to nerve recovery and function. They maintain nerve cell membranes, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation damage, and improve nerve function and regeneration.
Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increased risk of developing carpal tunnel. It’s essential to check your vitamin D levels on your blood work. 40% of Americans have low vitamin D.
Optimally, your levels should range between 60 to 100 ng/mL. If you have low levels, especially below 50 ng/mL, you will struggle to raise these levels by sunbathing or taking 2000 IU’s of vitamin D. You need to take between 10,000 to 20,000 IU’s daily, depending on how low your levels may be.
Also, always make sure your vitamin D is complexed with K2.
Research recommends taking approximately 2,000 to 4,000 mg of fish oil for omega-3s. Dr. Coppola and I always place our patients on liquid fish oil when taking quantities this high. If you try to take it in capsule form, you will need to take up to 10 pills to reach this dosage.
Most fish oils are flavored with lemon or orange essence, so they do not taste bad.
Supplements for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The proper nutrients in clinically effective doses are imperative for the best results.
For our carpal tunnel patients, we use the same formula as we use for our peripheral neuropathy patients: Nuphoria cm Gold and Nerve Defense. These two formulas contain the B vitamins, R-alpha lipoic acid, and acetyl-L-carnitine at the right dosages.
How to Manage Pain from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
While you do everything possible to repair the median nerve, it can be hard to deal with the symptoms; however, there are ways to manage the pain and other symptoms.
First, you should reduce inflammation. It is possible to do without medication.
We use all-natural anti-inflammatories for our patients. We prefer Phyto UltraComfort from Pure Encapsulations. This formula reduces inflammation and pain with white willow bark, boswellia, and turmeric.
We recommend the same pain cream topically for peripheral neuropathy symptoms. The Rapid Relief Pain Cream contains several essential oils with potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
All the ingredients are natural, with no chemical preservatives.
If you are experiencing pain, numbness, or tingling in your hand–especially in your thumb, index, or middle fingers–your median nerve is likely compressed. You can take back control of your life with the right nutrients, therapies like PBM, and proper self-care.
Struggling with Neuropathy?
Dr. Coppola and Dr. Monteiro’s dedication to combating neuropathy is deeply personal, stemming from Dr. Monteiro’s experience with her mother’s severe chemo-induced neuropathy. This personal journey fueled their commitment to develop a systematic, drug-free approach to reversing neuropathy.
They founded the San Antonio Neuropathy Center, where they’ve successfully treated over 18,000 patients over the past two decades. Their acclaimed book, “Defeat Neuropathy Now in Spite of Your Doctor,” along with their neuropathy product line, stands as a testament to their expertise and innovative solutions.
Recognized as leading neuropathy specialists in America, Dr. Coppola and Dr. Monteiro offer a beacon of hope for those diagnosed with this challenging condition. If you or a loved one is seeking relief from neuropathy, reach out to us at 844 400-0101 or email us through our contact page – Click here.
Your path to healing can start today.
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