Carpal Tunnel Relief with Red Light Therapy

Carpal Tunnel Relief with Red Light

If you've ever experienced the tingling, numbness, and frustrating pain in your wrist caused by carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), you understand how much it can interfere with your daily life. For new moms, it's much more difficult. Between the repetitive actions of diapering, nursing, and carrying, CTS pain might feel unavoidable during the postpartum period. But red light therapy, offers a side-effect-free alternative to pain medication and wrist splints that is showing a lot of promise in recent research.

The Problem with Current Treatments

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are commonly used for carpal tunnel. These can give temporary relief, but the side effects, such as stomach issues or kidney troubles, make them a less-than-ideal alternative for women looking for solutions that are safe, effective, and natural. Plus, the meds only mask the symptoms—they don’t treat the underlying nerve inflammation and damage that’s causing all of that discomfort.

Studies show that PBM provides the same level of relief by actually addressing inflammation and helping repair the nerve, without any of the side effects of NSAIDs. And for postpartum moms looking to avoid unnecessary medications, that’s a big deal.

How PBM Resolves Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

PBM therapy works by sending red or near-infrared light at precise wavelengths deep into tissues to reduce inflammation and promote nerve healing.

Photobiomodulation Can:

Reduce inflammation around the nerves causing pain.
Stimulate cellular healing at the nerve level.
Increase blood flow, which draws in healing nutrients and flushes out inflammatory waste products, accelerating the healing process.
This non-invasive method does more than just alleviate pain; it targets the underlying cause.

A New Study Shines a Light on PBM’s Benefits for Carpal Tunnel

In a new study “Efficacy of Laser Acupuncture on Neurophysiological Parameters of Median Nerve and Hand Function in Postpartum Women” (Botla et al., 2024), researchers explored how effective laser acupuncture (photopuncture) —a specific PBM method—could be for pregnant or postpartum moms dealing with this discomfort (in pregnancy we don’t put the light over the bump but can safely activate acupuncture points with the laser).

Here’s a quick look at the protocol:

• Treatment Setup: The study used an 808 nm laser device on specific acupuncture points associated with nerve health and hand pain.

• Session Length: Each session lasted 12 minutes, applied three times per week over four weeks.

• Comparison: Half of the moms only wore a wrist splint, while the other half received both the PBM and splint treatment.

The Results: Moms who received PBM had better results in hand strength, pain reduction, and nerve function than those who wore only the splint. Here’s how those improvements looked:

• Hand Strength: PBM treatment improved hand strength by an impressive 45.8%, compared to 37% in the splint-only group.

• Nerve Function: Sensory and motor nerve speeds improved significantly—14.4% and 8.4% in the PBM group, compared to just 6.6% and 2.2% in the splint group.

• Pain Reduction: PBM reduced sensory nerve pain by 18% compared to a 5.6% reduction in the splint-only group.

The results show that PBM is more than just an alternative; it’s a powerful treatment that can address the root of the problem while reducing pain and discomfort.

Additional Research Supporting PBM for CTS

Reassuringly other studies show similar results:

• Lazovic et al. (2014): This study applied PBM directly over the carpal tunnel area (not on acupuncture points) in a placebo-controlled trial. Patients experienced significant pain reduction and improved nerve function, showing that PBM can work wonders even without acupuncture points.

• Fusakul et al. (2014): PBM was combined with wrist splints in this study, similar to the Botla et al. study. PBM sped up recovery and provided more relief than splints alone. This reinforces PBM’s versatility for reducing pain and improving nerve function, no matter how it’s applied.

Why PBM Might Be Right for You

Photobiomodulation has been a big win for those wanting to reduce their reliance on NSAIDs or other medications. With PBM, moms are finding a non-invasive, side-effect-free way to handle this debilitating pain and get on with enjoying your newborn.

It’s exciting to see PBM growing as a trusted method for treating carpal tunnel and other common postpartum challenges.

PBM just might be the light at the end of the carpal tunnel.

Tracy