Acupuncture to help carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy
Carpal tunnel syndrome is surprisingly common in pregnancy and can make everyday tasks—like holding a phone, typing, or even sleeping—much more uncomfortable. During this important time, many women prefer to limit medications, which is one reason acupuncture can be a great fit during pregnancy as a gentle, non-drug option for relief.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway made of bone and ligament that houses the median nerve and several tendons. Everyday stresses that tighten the flexor muscles of the forearm, such as typing or holding heavy objects, add tension, shear, inflammation and compression in the carpal tunnel, making it a common form of nerve entrapment syndrome. During pregnancy, other factors contribute as well. A pregnant woman’s blood volume and total body fluid increase significantly, leading to noticeable swelling, especially in confined spaces such as the wrist. When pregnancy-related swelling builds up in this small tunnel, there is simply less room for the median nerve. This compression is what causes the classic symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome: tingling, numbness, burning, or pain in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger, often worse at night or when the wrist is bent for long periods.
Hormonal changes also play a role. Pregnancy hormones can cause tissues and ligaments to become looser and more prone to retaining fluid. As a result, the ligament that forms the “roof” of the carpal tunnel may thicken slightly, further crowding the space available for the median nerve. Weight gain, changes in posture, and increased strain from baby care or work activities can all add mechanical stress to the wrists, and cause additional pressure on the median nerve “upstream” to the carpal tunnel (such as in the cervical and brachial plexus region) that compounds nerve hypoxia. For many women, these symptoms peak in the second or third trimester and often improve after delivery as hormone levels and fluid balance gradually return to pre-pregnancy levels.
It is understandable that many women are cautious about taking additional medications during pregnancy to manage carpal tunnel pain. This is where non-pharmacologic approaches, such as acupuncture, become especially appealing. Studies suggest that acupuncture can help reduce pain and improve function in people with carpal tunnel syndrome by influencing local blood flow, modulating nerve signaling, and reducing muscle tension around the affected area.
For pregnant women, acupuncture is a safe, drug-free option that can be combined with other conservative strategies recommended by healthcare providers. These strategies may include wearing a wrist splint at night to keep the wrist in a neutral position, taking short breaks from repetitive hand activities, adjusting sleeping positions to avoid bending the wrists, and performing gentle stretching exercises. Together, these measures can reduce pressure on the median nerve and make symptoms more manageable.
When delivered by a licensed practitioner who has experience working with pregnant patients, as we do here at Bridge, acupuncture is generally considered a safe and well-tolerated option. For expectant mothers, acupuncture offers a sense of proactive control and a way to seek relief from any type of pain without relying solely on medications, helping them stay more comfortable and functional throughout pregnancy.
References
Kaiser Permanente. (2021, May 31). Pregnancy: Carpal tunnel syndrome. Retrieved from https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.pregnancy-carpal-tunnel-syndrome.zt1608
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby. (2024, December 22). Carpal tunnel syndrome and pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-and-pregnancy
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. (2024, May 30). Carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS) in pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/resources/carpel-tunnel-syndrome-cts-in-pregnancy/
UT Southwestern Medical Center. (2020, October 19). Carpal tunnel syndrome and pregnancy go hand in hand. Retrieved from https://utswmed.org/medblog/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-pregnancy/
Hadianfard, M. J., Aminlari, A., & Elyasi, M. (2006). Acupuncture in treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Neurology India, 54(4), 363–367. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3523426/[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
Li, W., Wu, Z., Yang, Q., Chen, X., Jiang, Z., & Li, J. (2022). Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Surgery, 9, 952361. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2022.952361/full[frontiersin]
Zhang, Y., Li, M., Huang, Z., Ye, J., Chen, S., & Zhao, L. (2024). Effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Frontiers in Neurology, 15, 1346111. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11617874/[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]