Purpose of Armour Thyroid Hormones in Carpal Tunnel Treatment

Though many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are because of workplace factors, such as typing without a break for too many hours, it can also be a symptom of hypothyroidism. When hypothyroidism is the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, the use of armour thyroid should help to relieve both the hypothyroidism and the carpal tunnel syndrome.

Hypothyroidism

• The thyroid gland is located at the front of the throat, just below the larynx. The hormone produced by the gland is essential in the growth of cells all over the body and how these cells use energy and oxygen. When the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone, called hypothyroidism, it causes many symptoms, including chronic fatigue, headaches and muscle conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. If left untreated, this can lead to depression, heart disease and mental and behavioral impairment. Armour thyroid is used to treat hypothyroidism.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Carpal tunnel syndrome is an inflammatory disorder of the hand and wrist that causes pain and weakness. The carpal tunnel is a passageway located at the bottom of the palm. A nerve called the median nerve travels through the carpal tunnel. During carpal tunnel syndrome, the carpal tunnel swells, pressing down on the nerve. If this is caused by hypothyroidism, it is important to treat the underlying condition, often with armour thyroid, but it is also important to directly treat the carpal tunnel syndrome. This is usually done by resting the hands (sometimes even putting them in splints) and giving steroid injections.

Armour Thyroid

• Armour thyroid is a treatment for hypothyroidism. It is not a treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Hypothyroidism is treated by replacing the missing thyroid hormone in the body. Many of the replacement hormones, such as liotrix and thyroglobulin, are synthetic. Armour thyroid is dried and powdered thyroid hormone and is not synthesized. When armour thyroid is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, it is actually being used to treat underlying hypothyroidism. Treatment with armour thyroid is also called thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

Recovery

• Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is used to raise naturally low levels of thyroid hormone. It does not treat the cause of the low hormone levels. For this reason, it is possible the patient may need to take armour thyroid for the rest of his life. However, if the hypothyroidism has also caused carpal tunnel syndrome, thyroid hormone replacement therapy and treatment for the carpal tunnel syndrome should make this symptom of hypothyroidism go away.

Considerations

• Contact your doctor as quickly as possible if you experience any of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome or hypothyroidism. Also, because armour thyroid does not actually treat your carpal tunnel syndrome, you should not stop taking the medication after the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome have gone.