Your medical cannabis journey simplified: find partnered dispensaries, explore pricing options, earn rewards, and get answers to FAQs, all in one spot.
December 7, 2020 02:30 pm ETEstimated Read Time: 4 Minutes
During the COVID-19 induced lockdown, I had the strangest revelation about my hands as I was reading an article I came across on my feed about technology leading to the rise in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome cases. During the read, I came to realize that I have been relying on my hands for work, but that I never take time out to care for and appreciate them. It may sound strange but just like any part of the body, it has muscles and joints which need to be stretched and looked after, especially if you’re like me…who spends a lot of time typing behind a screen. If we were to continue relying on our hands and taking them for granted, we could end up with conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
A carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway that is surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm-side of the hand. When pressure is applied to the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm-side of the hand, one develops what is known as carpal tunnel syndrome. When the median nerve receives pressure, it can cause the nerve to become compressed which is then accompanied by aggravating symptoms.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome have been known to develop gradually and include the following symptoms:
Tingling: The tingling may feel like an electric shock in the thumb, index, middle or ring fingers but will not be felt in the pinky finger (the little finger). Tingling and numbness can both travel from the fingers to the writs and into the arm.
Numbness: The Mayo Clinic explains that many with this syndrome try to “shake out” their hands to alleviate the symptoms but that the numbness may become constant over time. Similar to the tingling, the numbness usually does not affect the pinky and it can travel.
Weakness: This symptom can lead to dropping objects as well as experiencing weakness in the writs and hands which can impact the ability to do certain tasks.
Pain: The pain spreads from the fingers to the wrist too and can often be seemingly unbearable.
The symptoms may be aggravated in the evening or while doing things such as driving. Proper treatment should alleviate the tingling, numbness, and function in the hands and writs. Conventional treatment has been relatively effective but at the cost of side-effects such as weight gain, bruising, and becomes easily tolerant of the pain-killers, which could lead to narcotic use and/or addiction.
Apply For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Get approved or your money back
Appointments available on-demand
Customer support available 24/7
Risk Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The following may not be the direct cause of carpal tunnel syndrome but they have been associated with the condition and increases the risk of damage to the median nerve.
Repetitive actions involve flexing the wrist, especially if the conditions are cold. This includes typing, drawing, using a mouse, throwing a ball, or using vibrating tools.
A wrist fracture or dislocation.
Arthritis that causes deformation in the small bones in the wrist.
Biologically having smaller carpal tunnels- which also puts women at the most at risk.
Diabetes and other nerve-damaging conditions.
Inflammatory conditions that affect the lining around the tendons of your wrist.
Medications such as Arimidex.
Medical conditions such as pregnancy, menopause, thyroid disorder, kidney failure, and lymphedema.
Using Cannabis to Help Treat Carpal Tunnel
For those suffering from the pain, numbness, and tingling which accompanies carpal tunnel syndrome, cannabis can be an effective treatment option, especially if you are wary of the side-effects and effectiveness of conventional pharmaceutical medications.
Cannabis can act as an all-natural anti-inflammatory and it can reduce the associated pain with minimal risk of side-effects. If one were to experience side effects, the ones associated with cannabis are non-lethal, are far less severe than those of conventional medication and they go away within a few hours after consumption. The side effects include feeling sleepy, hungry, couch-locked, dry-mouth, and if you consumed too much, anxiety.
Far outweighing the possible side-effects are the much more prominent benefits. Cannabis can target the following carpal tunnel syndrome-related symptoms:
A study conducted by Henry McQuay that was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that cannabis is significantly effective in helping reduce neuropathic pain. While two separate studies, one conducted in the UK and the other one conducted in China, found that cannabis was effective as an anti-inflammatory relieving agent, which means that individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome could benefit from the same. However, there is not enough research on cannabis for carpal tunnel syndrome specifically, but there is plenty of research on cannabis for the syndrome-related symptoms.
Chane Leigh, aka The Bud Fairy, is a South African cannabis advocate and enthusiast with a firey personality and a thirst for travel. She loves to educate people and to question the norms.
Blunts: What are they exactly, and how do they affect your body? If you’re interested in smoking blunts—or already smoke them—this guide is for you. We’ll cover everything you need to know about this popular cannabis intake method, including how they’re made, how they differ from spliffs and joints, risks of use, and alternative intake…
“Stoned,” “high,” “tripping,” and “baked,” are all terms engrained in the cannabis community. These metaphorical descriptions contribute to how we perceive, interpret, and learn from the experiences produced by cannabis consumption. Cannabis experiences, of course, are unique and highly variable. Specific plant strains, the presence of other cannabinoids, different delivery methods, and a user’s individual…
Thanks to the growing wave of legalization, more consumers than ever can grow their own cannabis right at home. Growing essentials that used to be secretive are now bought and sold freely. This includes items, like grow tents, nutrients, LED lighting, HPS lighting, ventilation, and more. Keeping all these items straight is hard enough, but…
Skin diseases plague millions of individuals, inflicting both physical discomforts in addition to mental and social stress. Thankfully, there is no shortage of skin treatment options available on the market. That said, this established market may soon be in for a major shake-up if recent cannabis research is any indication. Traditionally, cannabis research focused on studying…
As more states move toward legalization, accurately detecting impaired driving is of the utmost importance. Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) have long been the go-to method for law enforcement to assess driver impairment caused by substances like alcohol. However, a recent 2023 study published in JAMA Psychiatry raises serious questions about the accuracy of these tests…
We use our own as well as third party cookies to improve your site experience and the services we make available. You can learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
Content Disclamer
The statements made regarding cannabis products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cannabis is not an FDA-approved substance and is still illegal under federal law. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using any cannabis products. The use of any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.