Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at Korean Acupuncture and Herb Clinic

 Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at the Korean Acupuncture and Herb Clinic

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an entrapment median neuropathy, causing pain, numbness, and other symptoms in the distribution of the median nerve due to its compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel. It appears to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some of the predisposing factors include: diabetes, obesity, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, and heavy manual work or work with vibrating tools but not lighter work even if repetitive.

 

How to treat Carpal tunnel syndrome in Korean Acupuncture and Herb Clinic?

First: Electro-Acupuncture to cut the discomforts from the pinched nerve

Second: Friction massage to get rid of the entrapment.

Third: Placing Icepacks on the affected area to prevent inflammation from friction massage

Fourth: Nerve stretching to glide the nerve properly

Ref: Wikipedia

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

 Treating a Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome at KAHC

 What is Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS)?

Also known as posterior tibial neuralgia, it is a compression neuropathy and a painful foot condition in which the tibial nerve is compressed as it travels through the tarsal tunnel. This tunnel is found along the inner leg behind the medial malleolus.

What symptoms accompany a TTS?

1.     Numbness in the foot radiating to the big toe and the first three toes

2.     Pain, burning, electrical sensations, and tingling at the base of the foot / heel.

3.     The entire foot can be affected as different parts of the tibial nerve can become affected

4.     Ankle pain

5.     Possibilities of Inflammation or swelling. As the flexor retinaculum has a limited ability to stretch, increased pressure may eventually cause compression on the nerve within the tunnel causing the nerves to respond with altered sensations like tingling and numbness.

6.     Fluid could collect in the foot while standing or walking making the condition worse.

How do we treat Tarsal tunnel syndrome [TTS] at the Korean Acupuncture and Herb Clinic?

First: We stimulate the nerve, by using Electro-Acupuncture treatment near the entrapped area and the nerve innervation area as well.

Second: Friction massage is applied to take apart the nerve and ligament or tendon

Third: Icepacks are placed to prevent inflammation from the separation.

Acupuncture and Low Back Pain

Acupuncture and Chronic Low Back Pain

Low back pain remains as one of the most frequented reasons to visit a doctor. However, the most common problem is “nonspecific” or “idiopathic” low back pain, and it is this disorder that is most often associated with chronic or recurrent symptoms.

 

Alternate medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM] treatments such as Acupuncture are helpful in treating such conditions. TCM works on the physiological system which looks at the harmony between the body, mind and spirit. Internal disharmony is believed to be due to a blockage or improper flow of the energy or Qi. Acupuncture needles inserted at specific acu-points are believed to restore the proper flow of Qi.

 

Acupuncture can be used as a multidisciplinary approach before or together with conventional treatment such as physical therapy, pain medicine etc. Caution should be taken that electro-acupuncture is not performed on patients with implanted electric devices such as pacemakers.

 

During an acupuncture session for low back pain, and based on patient history and physical examination, specific areas will be identified for needle insertion. Nonetheless, there are common acu-points that may be used to treat low back pain. Supplementary procedures such as tongue checks and or herbal medicines may be used to comprehensively treat the condition.

 

Typically post insertion of needles, the patient is advised to rest and relax for about 15-30 minutes. Manual stimulation of needles by the practitioner may be done to create a dull, localized “needle grasp” tugging sensation. Further stimulation can be done using moxibustion (burning the herb at the end of the needle) and application of heat.

 

Although number of sessions of acupuncture varies from case to case, a minimum of around 10 sessions maybe needed, with visits of at least twice a week. Major side effects from acupuncture are rare and it is mostly considered a safe practice. Acupuncture has shown to have an effect on the limbic structure post treatment for low back pain patients.

 

Acupuncture provides short-term pain relief and functional improvement and is a recommended option for low back pain treatments. Physiotherapy in the form of mild stretching and strengthening programs go a long way in aiding the acupuncture program.

 

At the end of treatment, the patient’s response, particularly - levels of pain, mood, and general activity level are checked and it is determined whether additional acupuncture treatments should be received or not.

Gain Knowledge To Lose Weight

 

Gain knowledge to lose weight

Ever wondered why there are countless articles on ways to lose weight and yet it remains as one of the most challenging daily lifestyle problems we deal with?

In my opinion, that’s because, while we read, we don’t truly learn. Knowledge and understanding of the human body, and how it works is a critical factor to losing those inches and keeping them off! We’ve all heard great terms like “low-carb, high protein” ,“Gluten free diets”, Low GI meals etc but what does this really mean and how is one supposed to know what’s right for him / her?

Frankly, while there’s just about enough information available at our finger tips, I think it’s time we learnt a little more in-depth. So here’s what I found out … have you heard of “Leptin” and “Ghrelin”? If you haven’t, don’t worry about it … I’ll do my best to try and explain it as I understand it.

Simply put “Leptin” is a hormone released by the adipose [fat] tissue inducing satiation or an “I’m full” feeling.

While “Ghrelin”, the counterpart of Leptin, is a hunger stimulating peptide which causes us to feel the “urge” to eat.

So what does this have to do with our gaining weight or losing it? Quite a bit if you understand how they work. Let’s look at “Leptin”: Leptin makes our brains send out a “stop” signal when its levels are elevated making us dis-engaged in the eating process. Conversely, when the leptin levels are reduced, we have cravings and feel hungry.

Simple isn’t it? If the above, on its own were true, one would simply need to increase the leptin levels in the body and reduce weight easily. Unfortunately, the human body is far more complex. An overweight person, who has a higher level of leptin [as this is produced in the adipose tissue], yet feels the urge to eat a fairly large portion or several frequent meals. Why is that? That is because the body gets adjusted to the higher leptin levels as “standard” thereby allowing the individual to continue to eat more than normal in order to send out the “stop” signal. With the bar of “leptin-standards” increasing, the body keeps re-adjusting the amount of intake in order to start sending out the signal. You can compare this to a swimmer. Let’s say the first 5 laps will be difficult to start with initially. But as time passes, the feeling of tiredness will creep in much later [say the 7^th or 8^th lap] as the body is now able to [and used to] doing the 5 laps and with time would no longer get tired after 5 laps. Similarly, if the body’s leptin levels are already elevated with an overweight person, and he/she continues to overeat, the high leptin level will be considered as “standard” by the body and will keep increasing with time should the person continue to overeat. Sugar and high fructose diets also induce leptin resistance i.e. the brain gets immune to sending out the “stop” signal when the body gets overloaded with these foods.

Luckily this is correctable with a person in general good health. Keep note that the leptin levels tend to increase after we eat and during rest. So how does one lose weight?

A possible answer to that is gradual reduction in the portion size. Just like with anything, leptin levels get readjusted slowly allowing the standard to fall and thereby sending out the “stop” signal faster. This does not mean starve or cut back on the yummies, it just means be patient and aware of how much and how often you are eating. Once the leptin levels re-adjust, the body automatically will consume lower calories and feel “full” faster.

Reducing high sugar content will also help speed up the process of re-adjusting the leptin “standard” level in the body, thus aiding weight loss and keeping it off. Adding foods such as fish that are high in Omega 3 has also been linked to naturally increasing leptin levels in the body.

Lastly sleep well each night. The body automatically re-aligns the leptin levels during periods of rest.

 

Ref: nutritionworldland.com/understanding our bodies.

Stability for a Healthy Lower Back

 

Core Stabilization for a Healthy Lower Back.

While specific programs that are individualized and tailor made for each patient gets betters results, there are certainly some repetitive generic points that can be used for patients undergoing spinal rehabilitation and stabilization.

·         Exercise in moderation is better than in excess. Take it slow and steady and monitor the progress. Exercises such as bending forward and touching the toes should be avoided at this time because it can damage the discs of the lower back.

·         Ideally one should balance both flexibility of the spine and its stability. Increased flexibility to a joint actually reduces its stability factor. As such moderation is a term to be kept in mind when performing spinal exercises.

·         It has been documented that the spinal discs lose fluid during the day and re-hydrate during the night and rest times. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid make any harsh quick movements on waking up early or excessively straining the back.

·         While weight lifting is a good way to build core strength, doing so while being seated is very detrimental. Other exercises such as pull ups and machine based systems for such activity are alright. Endurance building is recommended over quick sprint sets i.e. a little each day rather than a long session two to three days a week.

·         Flow with the natural curve of the spine. It is better advised to maintain a natural neutral lumbar curve while going about daily exercises and routine rather than bending or flexing it forward. 

·         Aerobic exercises are well recommended for preventing lower back pains with emphasis on brisk walking. Additionally exercises like swimming, deep water running, climbing stairs etc help with maintain both stability and flexibility of the spine.

 

Ref: yourbetterback.com

Musculoskeletal Myth

 

             Musculoskeletal Myth

 

#1: Lower back pain – self healing problem: While some experience the occasional lower back pain, most people with recurrent issues must consider visiting their practitioner to understand and treat the root cause. Alternate medicine provides a variety of treatments such as Acupuncture to help reduce such problems. The classic adage of “Prevention is better than cure” holds strong in the case of lower back pain and should be treated at an early stage for best results and reversal of the problem.

#2: An X-ray or an MRI can reveal the problems of musculoskeletal problems: Anomalies such as structural evidence of lumbar herniated disc seen in symptomatic patients are often found on asymptomatic X-rays and MRI’s as well. This begs the question of how accurate a reading can be made from just these findings. As a result it can be misconstrued with coincidental findings that an asymptomatic individual can be labeled as having pathology. A more definitive use of such imaging would be ideally suited to cases of tumor, infections, medical disease or fracture etc.

 

#3: All back pain patients are treated same: Treatment and recovery is very specific to each patient and generalization will only mean different results and different time frames of recovery. Each patient with such conditions must be approached clinically and holistically to its defined sub-path thereby accelerating outcome, reduced costs and improved results.

 

#4: Let pain be your guide: Pain as a guide is generally to be noted for traumatic injuries while not so much for chronic persistent repetitive pain. The attitude of the patient and the doctor while addressing the “do’s” and “don’t’s” is of paramount importance particularly as the idea of “being in pain” could cause as much if not more damage than the actuality of experiencing it.  The doctor should advice in such a way that pain-related anxiety is reduced and the patient is able to resume normal activity as much as possible.

 

#5: More is better: Psychologists say that the brain thinks as a whole and in terms of movement and not individual sets of muscles or body parts. Therefore the quality of exercise far out beats the necessity of quantity. In rehabilitation particularly, stability is of more importance than the strength.

 

#6: Deep Muscles like transverse abdominus are key for stability: When an example such as the lumbar spine is considered, it is known that the spine is not stabilized by individual muscles, but by an orchestrated symphony of muscles. Different muscles take on greater or smaller roles depending on the movement challenge.

 

#7: During exercise, we should breathe out with exertion: Every fitness center has stressed on the importance of breathing out with exertion, for example exhaling during a sit-up. Professional sports persons are asked to inhale prior to the squat in order to build up intra-abdominal pressure. Using this, they can light more weight. During low load training, it has been seen that when the spinal stabilization and respiratory challenge is simultaneously encountered, the nervous system naturally chooses maintenance of respiration to spinal stability.

 

#8: No Pain, No Gain: There is a subtle difference between the pain felt from injury and pain felt from a hard work out. Understanding the intrinsic difference between these two could be key in distinguishing a successful athlete from another. Extremities of ignoring pain to either put a full stop to exercising or ignoring the pain and overworking the body is not advisable. Endurance is built by pushing the limits, however while maintain the understanding of the root cause of the pain felt.

 

Ref: journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/jbmt

               ACUPUNCTURE FOR PAIN                                         

Acupuncture’s fame for treating pain only seems to be increasing. With hardly any side effects and safe treatment methods, it’s not a wonder that people are choosing a whole range of treatment options, including but not limited to arthritis, head neck and shoulder, joint pains, lumbar, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint pains, and many more pain syndromes.

Traditionally, pain is reduced or reversed when the qi (energy flow) is restored in the affected area with the central and peripheral nervous system being addressed as well. Non-traditional methods such as electro-acupuncture are also gaining importance when it comes to pain management.

Growing evidence for pain management is seen in the below areas:

Chronic Lower back pain: One of the most sought after treatments in Acupuncture is the musculoskeletal pain syndromes in the lower back. Acupuncture seems to have a better rate of pain reversal than traditional methods especially when managed over a longer period of time. Especially percutaneous nerve stimulation via electro acupuncture relives pain more effectively than regular acupuncture.

Chronic Head, Neck and Shoulder pain:  Acupuncture is shown to have good improvements in the areas of head, neck and shoulder pains while adding to the overall health and vibrancy of life. With relatively lower costs of treatment than standard treatments and little to no side effects, this form of treatment is well received by many.

Arthritis: People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as well as osteoarthritis and in particular knee osteoarthritis benefit hugely from acupuncture. Electro acupuncture with a strong stimulation can be used effectively to treat the symptoms.

Other forms of pain: Such as post-operative pains, chronic prostrate and pelvic pains, lateral epicondylitis pain, labor pain, irritable bowel syndrome etc are showing promising results with the use of acupuncture.

In general it has been found that acupuncture is well received by most takers, with a small percentage having mild symptoms such as tiredness, local pain, etc. Patients experiencing painful conditions are well suited to this form of treatment and can be recommended for many common syndromes.

 

Ref: Web site at www.aafp.org/afp