Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Compression of the C6-C7 nerve roots causes numbness in the thumb and index finger, while C7 causes numbness in the middle finger, so their distributions overlap with carpal tunnel syndrome. Key differentiation points: ① If the Phalen test (wrist flexion for 1 minute) is positive, it is related to the carpal tunnel. ② If accompanied by neck or shoulder pain or numbness extending beyond the elbow, it is of cervical origin. ③ Final confirmation via nerve conduction studies. In cases where two conditions coexist (double crush syndrome), complete recovery is difficult if only one is treated.

Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic

In Korean medicine, the Pericardium Meridian (Su-gyeol-eum Simpo-gyeong) runs from the chest, along the inner arm, to the fingers. Stagnation of Qi and blood in the cervical region can affect the entire Pericardium Meridian, causing symptoms to manifest in the wrists and fingers. At Dongjedang, we view the cervical, thoracic, and wrist regions as a single meridian flow, and perform neck treatment (cervical acupuncture and Chuna manual therapy) and wrist treatment simultaneously. The greater the pressure on the wrist, the higher the emphasis on internal treatment using herbal medicine to improve systemic Qi and blood circulation.