Natural remedy for carpal tunnel??????

ajfinsand

I am in the process of reading his book titled "The Miracle of MSM" by Dr. Stanley Jacob
who is the founder of the pain studies clinic at Oregon Health Sciences University; and
am astounded at the numerous different ailments that MSM has shown
to have a positive effect upon....including carpal tunnel syndrome.

And I can add my personal testimony....

I started taking MSM about two months ago. Since my spinal fusion
from C7-T9 2+ years ago, I've begun to experience pain in my hips,
knees, shoulders and spine above and below the fused levels. Research
on these internet bulletin boards warned me that eventual damage (and
additional fusion!) to the discs above and below fused areas are not
uncommon. I had heard that MSM was beneficial for joints and
connective tissue and decided to start taking it to improve my odds of
preserving my remaining unfused discs.

Prescription pain meds and muscle relaxers have never helped me much
at all...other than to make me tired and cause stomach problems. I
figured I just had to learn to live with the pain, which after three
unsuccessful rounds of physical therapy, had settled to a pretty
consistent level of 7/8 on the pain scale. Muscle spasms were really
bad for me. Sometimes I could just be sitting and watching TV and I
would have a spasm so bad that it felt like someone had literally just
wahcked my in the back with a baseball bat, and it almost took my
breath away. I religiously continue to do my physical therapy execises
at home, but the pain and muscle spasms never improved. I've also had
a terrible time sleeping becasue of the pain and muscle spasms. I took
Ambien to help me sleep for a long time, but eventually even with it I
was only sleeping three hours a night.

The first day I took the MSM I slept for six hours that night and work up
the next day at first thinking I had died and gont to heaven becasue my
pain level had improved so dramatically. Pain level was down to about a
4 after having been at 7/8 constantly for months. My back did begin to
tense up a bit after I had been up for a couple of hours, but after taking
a dose of the MSM it felt better again.

I've continued to take the MSM for two months now, and my pain levels
and muscle spasms have continued to improve. I gradually increased
my dosage of the MSM and began to have an improvement in my range
of motion. (It used to be painful just to bend over the sink to spit when
I brushed my teeth!) I continue to sleep well at night.

I decided to do some research on MSM to find out if these
improvements were common and the more I learn about MSM the more
impressed I am with the benefits it has on so many different
conditions. Now I am curious to know if other pain doctors are familiar
with the studies that have been done at the Portland Clinic or have ever
heard of or tried MSM for their patients.

Here is some basic info on it from the book:

MSM is chemically known as methylsulfonylmethane, a naturally
occurring sulfur compound found in
the bodies of humans and all other vertebrates. Sulfur is the eighth
most abundant element in the
human body. It plays an important role in the formation of all tissues,
especially those highest in
protein, such as red blood cells, muscles, skin, and hair. Sulfur is a
major ingredient of important
amino acids - the building blocks of proteins. MSM is a nutritional
supplement that supplies
biologically active sulfur, in a nutrient form, to the various systems of
the body.

Although MSM is abundant in nature, it is easily destroyed by heat,
drying, and food processing.
Unless ones diet consists mainly of raw, fresh, unprocessed fruits,
vegetables, and milk,
MSM intake is likely inadequate. Fortunately, the effects of sulfur
deficiency can be easily avoided
with regular supplementation of MSM.


PRINCIPLE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF MSM IN HUMANS

· Relief of pain
· Reduction of inflammation
· Increased blood supply
· Lessening of muscle spasm
· Softening of scar tissue


MEDICAL USES OF MSM

· Arthritis (Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis)
· Back Pain
· Headaches
· Fibromyalgia
· Athletic Injuries
· Tendinitis
· Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
· Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
· Dental Pain
· Heartburn
· Pollen Allergies
· Allergic Asthma
· Sinusitis
· Food Allergies

In order to remain flexible and healthy, cartilage, joints, and synovial
fluid need sulfur-containing
compounds. MSM supplies the body with organic sulfur that directly
contributes to the maintenance
of the integrity of the cartilage within the joints.

Chemically, it consists of two hydrocarbon units (groups of hydrogen
and carbon atoms) attached to
a unit with one sulfur and two oxygen atoms. The molecule is one-third
sulfur by weight.

One of the many advantages of MSM is that it is a small molecule with
a molecular weight of 94. It
is bioavailable and capable of passing through tissues.

Sulfur is a necessary element in the diet of humans and lower animals.
More than just a raw material,
it contributes to the process of life. It is involved in the building of
bodily substance. It helps to
generate the energy that sustains physical activity. It neutralizes
oxidants and toxins that can destroy
health from within.

MSM relieves pain and inflammation in several ways. It blocks pain
impulses by precluding their
passage along C fibers within nerves. These fibers carry messages of
pain from a site of damaged
tissue in the body to the brain. MSM also reduces inflammation.
Inflammation can place pressure on
nerves and other tissues which intensifies pain. MSM promotes blood
flow, which enhances the
healing processes. MSM reduces muscle spasm - a condition invariably
present when the
musculoskeletal system is damaged.

Individuals taking MSM as a nutritional supplement frequently
experience a normalization of bowel
function with relief of constipation.

When using MSM there will be a lessening of scar tissue, softer skin,
thicker hair, less brittle nails,
and one will experience an increase in energy levels.

Dosage Information

Over the years, thousands of patients have experienced healing
benefits by taking 2 to 8 grams
(2,000 to 8,000 milligrams) of MSM a day depending on their
gastrointestinal tolerance.

For general maintenance and health, a daily dosage of approximately 2
grams (2,000 milligrams) is
recommended. Many patients require larger dosages to maintain health.
If larger dosages are used,
the target amount should be increased slowly over a period of several
weeks. Most people
supplementing with MSM should take it with breakfast and lunch. Avoid
taking large dosages prior
to bedtime because MSM increases energy levels.

Higher doses are typically necessary to experience therapeutic effects.
A person suffering multiple
allergic symptoms during pollen season may require more than 8 grams
of MSM per day. Those
with deep-seated conditions will often need even higher doses to
experience relief. Under a
physicians care, a patient can experiment with higher levels of MSM for
deep-seated
conditions.

MSM is rated as one of the least toxic substances in biology and
medicine, comparable to water.

If too much MSM is introduced too soon, minor gastrointestinal
discomfort or more frequent stools
may develop. If this occurs, the dosage of MSM should be reduced.

MSM should not be confused with sulfites. MSM is a sulfur compound
but not a sulfite. So the over
half-million people in the United States who are sulfite-sensitive should
not worry about allergic
reactions to MSM


This product has been a real God-send to me. I wish everyone could experience the relief
from crhonic pain that I have had from taking it.

love and prayers,

aj in Oregon

------------------
~ 48 year old female; currently self-employed as an artist/designer/woodcrafter.
~ Previously worked in the restaurant biz for 27 years (not so good for someone with a bad back!)
~ Hereditary and congenital scoliosis, but it never caused any problems until I was 40+ years old.
~ 76 degree curvature had increased 2 degrees in two years 1999-2001; indicating surgery was necessary.
~ Surgery in March of 2001.
~ Fusion and insturmentation of C7 - T9.
~ Fourth rib removed; 5th and 6th rib cut back halfway; removed ribs were morselized and used for the grafting, plus additional bone harvested from hip.
~ After tthe hardware was attached, spine was straigntened 20+ degrees.
~ 2 weeks in the hospital.
~ Brace worn for five months. Bone growth stimulator device also worn several hours per day.
~ PT 5 mos. after surgery caused increased pain.
~ Follow-up surgery to remove hardware scheduled for Feb. 2002.
~ Round 2 of PT 2 mos. after hardware removal.
~ Medically released to return to full activity in July 2002.
~ Increased pain upon returning to regular work schedule.
~ Round 3 of PT in April/May 2003; continually increasing pain.