- 期刊
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Overlapped by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treated with Traditional Chinese medicine-a Case Report
胸廓出口症候群合併腕管症候群之中醫治療－一病例報告
摘要
胸廓出口症候群是由於臂叢神經、鎖骨下動脈、或靜脈、行經胸廓時，受到壓迫所引起。腕管症候群是由於正中神經在腕部受到壓迫所造成。我們報告一個三十五歲女性病例，診斷爲胸廓出口症候群合併腕管症候群，用中醫（包括針灸、中藥、和推拿）治療的過程及療效評估。此病人剛開始被診斷爲胸廓出口症候群，臨床上以右肩，右臂，右手手指疼痛麻木爲表現，舉臂試驗爲陽性。病人的疼痛指數在四次治療後，從治療前的10分，減至3.5分。治療過程中，病人又出現腕管症候群的症狀，後經神經生理學檢查證實此診斷。在十七次的治療後，病人的疼痛指數維持在3.5分。我們建議，中醫療法可以作爲治療胸廓出口症候群或腕管症候群在西醫療法之外的替代療法。
並列摘要
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is caused by compression of the brachial plexus, subclavian artery or vein as they exit the chest. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. We report a 35-year-old woman of thoracic outlet syndrome overlapped by carpal tunnel syndrome, treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including acupuncture, herbal medicine and tui-namassage. This patient was initially diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and presented with excruciating pain and numbness in right shoulder, arm and fingers, and positive elevated arm stress test (EAST). Her pain decreased from 10 to 3.5 on a 0 to10 verbal pain scale after four treatment sessions. During the treatment period, she developed carpal tunnel syndrome, which was confirmed by electrophysiology studies. At the end of 17 treatment sessions, her pain scale continued to remain at 3.5. We suggest that traditional Chinese medicine be considered an alternative therapy for thoracic outlet syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome.