Embrace Acupuncture

View Original

Pregnant Ladies! Self-Care for Carpal Tunnel

What is Carpal Tunnel in pregnancy, I hear you ask? Well! Carpal Tunnel Syndrome presents as a numbness, weakness and often pain in the hand and fingers. It’s a result of excess fluid buildup in pregnancy that impacts on the median nerve running through the wrist.

How To Relieve Carpal Tunnel Symptoms in Pregnancy

There are some useful acupressure points and areas on your wrist and arm that, if you massage gently and use acupressure techniques, can help relax your arm and reduce the symptoms. 

Acupoint LI10

Massaging muscles along the inside of the forearm can help relax the tendons in the wrist, leading to more space in the wrist for the nerve. 

Use your opposite thumb to massage the top side of your forearm, spending more time on the tender areas. Start on Acupoint LI10 (see the picture below), and explore points within a 2cm radius for at least 2 minutes.

Acupoint PC6

Turn your arm over to the inside of your wrist and locate Acupoint PC6 (see below). Use a clockwise, circular motion with your opposite thumb (the flat/palm part of your thumb) to massage this point for 2 minutes.

If you’d like some extra help, we now have online Acupressure appointments available. There are plenty of Acupressure points to learn about - all from the comfort of your own home.