Imagine what would happen if you tried to squeeze a bunch of electric wires through too small a space. They’d get frayed and would probably malfunction.
The same thing happens when you try to squeeze nerves through a space that is too small. The one place in the body where that is most likely to happen is the wrist, and anyone with carpal tunnel syndrome can tell you that the malfunction translates into pain, tingling, and numbness. Hands and fingers might feel weak and refuse to work quite the way they should.
The carpal tunnel is a small opening through the bones and ligaments of your wrist that allows several tendons and the median nerve to pass through from your forearm to your hand. Surgery to fix that opening is one of the most commonly performed operations in the United States. How could such a delicate structure cause so much trouble for so many people?
Many people, more women than men, are apparently born with small carpal tunnels. And any trauma or injury that causes swelling in the tendons that pass through the carpal tunnels pinches the median nerve that also passes through that tunnel. Other conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, can also contribute to that painful pressure. Finally, repetitive motions seem to play a role, as the syndrome is more common in people who do jobs that require repeating the same forceful hand and arm motions throughout the day—factory workers, meat packers, cashiers in grocery stores.
If you suspect you have carpal tunnel syndrome, you should see your doctor for an evaluation. Untreated, the condition is progressive. It worsens from mild tingling and numbness to atrophy of the muscles at the base of the thumbs.
Treatments may include resting and splinting the wrists to prevent them from bending, a variety of anti-inflammatory medications, and cold compresses, as well as several types of surgery.
In terms of alternative remedies, a couple of studies have shown that yoga poses that focus on building wrist strength and flexibility can be helpful for some people.
One nutrient, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), has shown promise for those seeking relief from the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. Several small studies through the years have shown that this vitamin reduces pain and can even alleviate symptoms for some individuals.
In 1993, for example, a study done in the department of neurology at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Hayward, California, demonstrated that people receiving vitamin B6 did register improved pain scores as a result of the treatment. Again, in a small American study done in 1976, researchers found that not only did pain improve for many in the study, but that some were able to avoid surgery.
Vitamin B6 is often “very helpful” for people with mild to moderate symptoms, says orthopedic surgeon Leonard Torok, MD, director of Ohio Holistic Medicine in Medina. Although a number of studies have looked at this treatment, it’s still not clear why it works, he says, but for some reason, it does the trick for many people.
Dr. Torok suggests taking 50 to 100 milligrams a day. Although the vitamin is safe at this level, he says it’s not a good idea to go above 100 milligrams. “Don’t try to take more,” he cautions. “A lot of people on B6 get bad nightmares. If you go to 100 milligrams or more a day, that wouldn’t be unusual.”
So start with the lower dose. If you increase the dose and find that 100 milligrams causes sleep disturbances, back off on the dose.
Vitamin B6 |
50 to 100 milligrams |