symptom

The patient presented with pain at the base of their right thumb. The onset of pain was approximately two weeks prior, occurring during work activities such as grasping, pinching, and holding objects. The pain was felt during both ulnar and radial deviation movements, and while there was no pain when the hand was not in use, it significantly interfered with everyday hand movements. Due to the heavy use of their hands at work, the symptoms were causing considerable stress. At the initial consultation, the patient had not consulted an orthopedic surgeon, but later visited the clinic due to a worsening of the pain. They were diagnosed with suspected thumb tenosynovitis, and the pain at rest was reduced with an injection. In addition, they also experienced chronic shoulder stiffness.

Treatment and progress

At the initial consultation, the patient complained of severe pain when moving their thumb, particularly when bending the wrist inward and outward, and when gripping objects. The first session involved acupuncture on points in the back and feet to relieve tension throughout the body. After the treatment, the pain was slightly reduced but did not completely disappear. From the second session onward, in addition to the same treatment, treatment aimed at relieving tension in the forearm was also incorporated, as the tension in the forearm was significant. With each subsequent treatment, the number of movements that caused pain gradually decreased, and significant improvement was observed after four sessions. There was a temporary worsening of the condition due to overuse of the hands at work between treatments, but stable recovery was achieved through concurrent consultation with an orthopedic surgeon.

Acupressure points used

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• T7(1)(S-Code) R
• T8(1)(S-Code) R
• C7(1.5)(S-Code) R
• T1(1.5)(S-Code) R

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Summary

For pain at the base of the right thumb, treatment involving acupuncture on the back and feet, as well as relaxation of tension in the forearm, reduced pain during movement. The combination of whole-body adjustment with acupuncture and local tension relief proved effective. Although the patient's job made it impossible to avoid using their hands, continued treatment and combined injection therapy at an orthopedic clinic led to early improvement of symptoms. In the future, it is desirable to continue maintenance focusing on tension relief in the shoulders and forearms to prevent recurrence.

Staff in charge

Seiya Fujieda

Acupuncture clinic for the case:Eda Acupuncture and Massage Clinic