Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hi Terry, “I exercise daily, but have noticed recently that every time I try to do a push-up, I am unable to support my own weight and experience wrist pain. Is there anything I can take to alleviate this issue? Thanks!”— Kaye U., Green Bay, WI

A. Dear Kaye, It sounds as if you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, a hand and arm condition caused by a pinched nerve in your wrists. Surrounded by bones and ligaments, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve to your hand and nine tendons that bend your fingers. Compression of the nerve produces numbness, pain and, eventually, hand weakness. I would encourage you to consult with your doctor to determine if this is the issue. If it is carpal tunnel, your doctor can refer you to a physical therapist who can recommend exercises that may help alleviate the discomfort.

To further correct any nerve dysfunction, I recommend taking vitamin B6, blended with a highly absorbable magnesium, like magnesium glycinate. The magnesium helps to promote vitamin B6 metabolism. Look for a formula that contains the active form of B6 – pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P). Many people (some estimate up to 30% of the population) cannot fully utilize B-vitamins from food and supplements, because these forms of B-vitamins must be converted into the active form before they will function. By using the form of vitamin B6 that is identical to the kind your body utilizes, you bypass this problem entirely. I’d recommend taking two capsules of the P-5-P/Magnesium blend twice daily for a minimum of three months. Let me know how you progress.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally