Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Caused by Lack of Calcium or Vitamin D?

Does lack of calcium cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?  I was asked this very good question by a reader.

I wasn’t aware that a lack of calcium can specifically cause CTS.  But I did know that many minerals work together with calcium; it’s not only calcium that we need.

According to Drs. Travell and Simons MD’s, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, The Trigger Point Manual, Vol. 1, Second Edition, “Several minerals, especially iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, are needed for normal muscle function.”

So if you want to help your carpal tunnel symptoms heal and your muscles to function normally, give them what they need.  You have a smart body but it needs a little help from you to get better.

If you have a deficiency in calcium, you can only correct it by

ALSO correcting a deficiency in magnesium and potassium if they are causing you to have a calcium deficiency.  Taking a really good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement can help supply your needs.

And we need Vitamin D to help with absorption of calcium.  Vitamin D3 is the best form.

Vitamin D3 is what our skin manufacturers naturally when we are exposed to sunlight.

Sunlight is actually GOOD for you.  It has many health benefits when it hits your bare skin.  You just don’t want to get burned.

Being deficient or insufficient in D causes all sorts of physical “malfunctions.”  It’s simple and fairly cheap to increase your level of Vitamin D with tablets from the drug or health food store.  Look for “D3”.

Almost everyone is lacking enough D.  In the northern states, that may be a cause of “winter blues”, flu and other things.  (Yes, I said flu.)  Some people in the south make a point not to go in the sun, so they lack it, too.  And people who are dark-skinned are almost always deficient because of the way their skin processes sunlight (so they didn’t get too much D in hot, sunny climates) especially if they make a point to stay out of the sun.

How much Vitamin D should you take?  Most of the alternative MD’s suggest 1,000-5,000 units a day.  When we are naturally exposed to the sun in the summer, our body generates many times more than that!

Remember, if you don’t have sufficient D3, you may not be able to absorb calcium sufficiently.

Also, dark green vegetables and almonds have calcium.  Green, bananas, citrus, potatoes, beans, lentils, dates, prunes and nuts all have potassium.  If you wanted, you could also take a liquid multi-mineral supplement to get more calcium and also all of its partner minerals.

Eating a healthy diet will help supply a lot of your nutritional needs.

Eating a diet high in highly processed foods, unhealthy fats, sugar and table salt (rather than sea salt)  can lead to vitamin and minerals deficiencies.  It also leads to inflammation/swelling in tissues which is another cause of carpal tunnel pain.

Now, please remember:  I’m not a doctor, dietitian or nutritionist.  I’m someone who loves to read and help people like you and me get out of pain and be healthy.  I’m a “reporter” sharing the information that I have read.