An Ancient Treatment for a Modern Ailment

I awoke one morning with frightening symptoms: three fingers on my right hand were numb. Convinced the cause was neurologic, I headed straight to WebMD, which pointed toward the telltale early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, especially given that symptoms were on my right (dominant) hand and on my three Blackberry fingers.

As a writer, my eyes and hands are my lifeblood, and I'll do anything to protect them. Recommended treatments for carpal tunnel included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil, steroid injections, specific exercises, or -- for severe cases -- surgery. Wishing to avoid medications and surgery, I began to explore alternative medicine. I'd done some research about acupuncture as a potential treatment, and thought I'd give it a try.

I am fortunate to live in San Francisco, home to not just one, but three community acupuncture clinics. These clinics provide treatment in a semi-private setting, with fees on a sliding scale. Their mission is to make acupuncture affordable for everyone.

Acupuncture involves a holistic approach. During an assessment, you are asked about your overall health, including menstrual cycles, digestion, sleep, and so forth. The focus is about treating the body as a whole. However, there are certain pressure points used for carpal tunnel, including the wrist, hands, and forearm.

Acupuncture has been very effective for my carpal tunnel; after four sessions, my symptoms subsided significantly; they disappeared after six. I still go for maintenance and the restorative benefits. The treatments are very relaxing: the flow of energy being released feels tingly and euphoric.

I don't want to tout acupuncture as a panacea or cure-all, but its success in treating my carpal tunnel syndrome has me a believer. I try to assume better ergonomic postures for my wrists and hands, and take hourly keyboard breaks. It's interesting that an ancient modality can have benefits for a modern ailment.