Q I am a woman in my 40s who has been doing assembly work at a factory in the Dongincheon area for 10 years. Recently, my fingers have been tingling, and I cannot sleep because my hands feel like they are burning at night. Why are these symptoms occurring?
A Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which passes through the narrow passageway (carpal tunnel) inside the wrist, is compressed. Repetitive wrist use, vibrating tools, and prolonged flexion postures are the main causes, and it is particularly common in women and middle-aged people. It is characterized by tingling and a burning sensation that worsens at night.
Detailed Answer
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway located on the front of the wrist, through which the median nerve and nine flexor tendons pass together. When repetitive wrist flexion and extension, vibrating work, or swelling narrow this space and compress the median nerve, tingling, burning sensations, and nocturnal pain appear on the radial side of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger. Occupational repetitive movements, pregnancy, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and obesity are risk factors.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, the wrist area is considered a pathway through which meridians pass, acting as a gateway for the circulation of Qi and blood to the heart. When Qi and blood become stagnant due to prolonged repetitive work, the meridians become blocked, leading to pain and sensory abnormalities. Simultaneously, if the function of organs responsible for digestion and absorption weakens, dampness and phlegm accumulate around the tendons and ligaments, increasing pressure within the carpal tunnel. At Dongjedang, we aim for a recovery without recurrence by directly dissecting adhered transverse carpal ligaments using ultrasound-guided acupuncture and needle acupuncture, and resolving internal dampness and blood stasis with herbal medicine tailored to the patient's constitution.
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