EFFICACY OF COMBINED DRUG THERAPY ON CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is characterized by pain, numbness and tingling sensation in the hand caused by compression of median nerve at the wrist. Ammukkarachooranam(AMC), as internal drug and Pinder oil(PT) as external drug along with thokkamam(massage) were included in this combined strategy of therapy. The Aim of study is to evaluate reduction of signs and symptoms of CTS as per 5 point- Likert scale. The study was conducted at Teaching Hospital of Siddha medicine, Konesapuri, Trincomalee, the period of study was two years and four months. The Hospital drug is given for the CTS patients who were selected for the documentation of this research study. A patient should receive the drugs for three months. The base line and follow up symptoms were recorded with the global assessment of five point likert scale. The evaluation made to observe the reduction of significant symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling. Amukurachoornam(AMC) 1 gram twice a day given orally with warm water and Pinder oil(PT) applied externally to the affected area. The clinical trial showed remarkable reduction of symptoms of pain and numbness. Because experimental phase shows the trial drugs have reducing effect in pain, numbness and tingling sensation from ?always?(5) and ?often?(4) to? never?(1) as per Likert scale. This was correlated with SPSS version 16, T Test paired sample statistics, trial combined drug showed significant reduction of symptoms of pain and numbness and tingling sensation compared to base line symptoms, because mean value of pain in base line 3.72 ? 0.54, final visit 1.24 ?0.52 ; mean value of numbness in base line 4.12 ? 0.6 final visit 1.4 ?0.64, mean value of tingling sensation in base line 3.32 ? 0.62 , final visit 1.04 ? 0.2 with. It has been concluded that the strategy of this combination of therapy of tested drugs along with thokkanam is effective in the management of Carpal tunnel syndrome.