Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very painful medical condition that will affect millions of people worldwide. It occurs when your median nerve, which runs from your forearm into the hand, becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist. This can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the affected hand and wrist.
While there are several treatment options that are available for carpal tunnel syndrome, many people are turning to CBD oil as a natural, plant-based alternative for pain relief. In this blog post, we’ll explore how CBD can help alleviate carpal tunnel symptoms and whether it’s an effective treatment option.
Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Before we dive into how CBD can help with carpal tunnel syndrome, let’s first understand what causes this condition. The carpal tunnel is a small, narrow passageway in the wrist that contains bones, ligaments, and tendons. The median nerve runs through this passageway and controls sensation in the thumb and first three fingers.
When the tissues surrounding the carpal tunnel become inflamed or swollen, they can put pressure on the median nerve. This compression leads to tingling, numbness, weakness, and pain in the hand and wrist. Certain factors increase your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, including:
- Repetitive movements of the wrist
- Pregnancy
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Obesity
Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
As mentioned earlier, treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome depend on its severity. Mild cases may be treated with rest, ice, physical therapy exercises, or splinting. More severe cases may require surgery to relieve pressure on the median nerve.
Rest is one of the most common and effective treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. Taking a break from activities that cause pain or discomfort can help reduce swelling and inflammation around the median nerve. Ice packs can also help alleviate pain and swelling when applied to the affected area for 10-15 minutes at a time.
Physical therapy exercises can also be helpful in relieving symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. These exercises are designed to help stretch and strengthen the various muscles in your hand and wrist, which can improve flexibility and reduce stiffness. A physical therapist can help to work with you to develop an exercise plan that’s tailored to your specific needs.
Splinting is another treatment option that involves wearing a brace or splint on your wrist while you sleep or engage in activities that aggravate your symptoms. This helps keep your wrist in a neutral position, which reduces that harmful pressure on the median nerve.
In more severe cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, surgery could be necessary to relieve pressure on the median nerve. During this procedure, a surgeon will make an incision in your wrist and cut the ligament that’s pressing on the median nerve. This relieves pressure on the nerve and allows it to heal properly.
It’s important to note that while these treatments can be effective for managing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, they may not provide complete relief for everyone. That’s where CBD comes into play as a potential natural alternative for pain relief.
How CBD Can Help with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CBD (cannabidiol) is just one of over 100 cannabinoids that are found in cannabis plants. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), another well-known cannabinoid found in cannabis plants that has psychoactive effects (gets you high), CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects.
CBD interacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system plays a vital role in helping to regulate various functions such as sleep patterns, appetite, mood, immune response, and pain sensation. When we consume CBD oil or apply topical CBD products onto our skin, it binds to these receptors within our ECS.
Studies have luckily shown that CBD has therapeutic properties that can help alleviate neuropathic pain caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathic pain is often described as a burning or shooting sensation caused by damage or dysfunction within the nervous system.
Since nerve pain is a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome, many believe that using CBD can provide some relief from symptoms related to nerve damage.
Additionally, research suggests that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, which could also help alleviate inflammation around the median nerve caused by chronic repetitive motions and other underlying health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Using Topical CBD Products for Localized Pain Relief
Using topical CBD products for localized pain relief is a popular method of using CBD for carpal tunnel syndrome. Topical CBD products include creams, balms, lotions, and salves that are applied directly to the skin over the affected area.
When applied topically, CBD can penetrate through the pores on our skin walls and reach deep into underlying tissue layers where it binds with receptors reducing inflammation and promoting relaxation without entering the bloodstream. This allows for targeted relief in specific areas experiencing discomfort, providing rapid onset relief without having any side effects commonly associated with oral consumption methods like drowsiness.
Topical CBD products can be especially effective for treating localized pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. By targeting the affected area directly with a topical cream or balm containing high-quality CBD oil, users can experience fast-acting pain relief that lasts for several hours.
When choosing a topical CBD product to use for carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, it’s important to look for products that are made from high-quality ingredients and contain a sufficient amount of CBD oil. It’s also important to check whether the product has been third-party lab tested to ensure its potency levels are accurate.
In addition to using topical CBD products, some people may also benefit from taking internal doses of CBD oil as part of their overall treatment plan for carpal tunnel syndrome. However, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen or supplementing with cannabinoids like CBD.
Final Thoughts
Although more research needs to be done specifically on how effective CBD oil is for treating carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms like chronic pain, there are studies suggesting its potential benefits for relieving neuropathic pain associated with damaged nerves as well as inflammation caused by conditions like arthritis.
If you’re considering trying out topical products containing cannabidiol for localized relief of carpal tunnel pain, make sure you purchase from reputable sources who provide third-party lab testing results ensuring quality potency levels are accurate before making any purchases.
