Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

This condition involves the compression of the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This nerve compression is usually caused by swelling and can be one of the most common causes of wrist pain. Since the median nerve sends sensory and movement messages between the brain and the thumb and middle three fingers, this condition causes a lot of pain and disfunction for our patients.

Common Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel issues can be caused by an injury, infection, or other underlying health condition that causes increased swelling. Some of the most common injuries aren’t broken wrists or other sudden injuries to the area. They are related to long-term physical stress.

Repetitive motion strains occur when the hands and wrists are used for the same motions over a long time. While these motions can be large, like one sees in a manufacturing plant or on a guitar’s fretboard, they can also be microscopic movements, such as hours of daily typing on a computer keyboard or the vibrating handlebars on an all-terrain vehicle.

Some of the more common causes our chiropractor for carpal tunnel syndrome sees include diabetes or specific occupation activities such as those performed by industrial plants or office workers.

Diabetes

Diabetes can worsen or even cause carpal tunnel problems because diabetes causes increased fluid retention and inflammation. When the delicate wrist area is swollen, the nerves are easily compressed, so carpal tunnel symptoms occur. Since diabetes also causes nerve damage, the nerve pain caused by neuropathy can intensify the pain.

Industrial Plant Work

Whether they work in an automotive assembly, meat, or other industrial setting, processing plant workers have a very high risk of carpal tunnel issues. These jobs involve doing the same tasks for several hours each day, providing all the ingredients needed to produce this condition.

Since meat and fish processing workers spend long hours gripping equipment, they cause tremendous stress on their wrist tendons, further compounding any carpal tunnel problems. Motorcyclists experience similar pain, so they are also at increased risk of median nerve and tendon issues in and around the carpal tunnel.

Office Work

Desk workers spend at least eight hours each day using a computer. Typing for several hours is a repetitive motion, like playing the piano. Since such office work also involves sitting for hours, there is more fluid retention and swelling to exacerbate carpal tunnel pain.

Other Conditions Linked With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Since fluid retention increases swelling and worsens carpal tunnel pain, medical conditions that lead to excess fluid build-up can cause carpal tunnel. Some common conditions that cause excess fluid build-up include high blood pressure, pregnancy, and wrist fracture.

Numbness

Issues with the carpal tunnel can begin as a subtle numbness in the hands and fingers. This can be especially easy to dismiss if you’ve been on a cross-country motorcycle trek or a loud processing plant. Since “pins and needles” can be mild, they can be easy to ignore.

The symptoms can also travel up the arm and often occur at night, so many people think they moved it strangely in their sleep. At West Suburban Wellness, when we get reports of people who sleep crookedly on their arms, we begin to suspect carpal tunnel syndrome. During the daytime, the wrist can become numb when bent while holding a smartphone, driving, or doing any other activity that bends the wrist for an extended time.

Pain

Median nerve compression causes pain in the hand, wrist, and forearm. We’ve had patients who have had pain all the way up to their shoulders. Pain, like the rest of the carpal tunnel symptoms, occurs gradually over time. Pain is often a later symptom, developing after numbness and sometimes after weakness.

How Chiropractic Works to Eliminate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Our West Suburban Wellness carpal tunnel syndrome chiropractors directly address nerve function, the heart of this painful issue. When the nerves can function properly, movement and sensation improve. Our chiropractic care also focuses on the whole person. We emphasize lifestyle interventions that focus on improving overall health.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Chiropractic Treatment Methods

When patients come to our office, we listen to them. Then we see what their body can tell us through detailed assessment and testing. Once we have a better picture of a patient’s pain, we can begin recreating a future with less pain using several chiropractic treatment methods.

Chiropractic Adjustment

A chiropractic adjustment involves gently manipulating the bones of the wrist. Through this carpal tunnel syndrome treatment, we can release any bones causing painful median nerve compression. When the carpal tunnel bones are properly realigned, the range of motion also increases.

Soft Tissue Work

Soft tissue work provides pain relief by working away any muscle tension that interferes with proper carpal tunnel functioning. Two of the soft tissue techniques we use most frequently focus on freeing the muscles of adhesions that limit their movement. As function improves, pain often decreases.

Rehabilitative Exercise

Another method of reducing pain is exercise. Exercise boosts circulating, bringing oxygen and other vital nutrients to the tissues. The targeted exercises we develop for our patients focus on strengthening the entire upper body, so overall function improves.

Carpal Tunnel Relief for You

If you found us by searching for a carpal tunnel syndrome chiropractor near me, it’s time to stop searching. We’re confident in our approach and have many patient testimonials on our site so that you can see some of our results. At this moment, however, the only results that matter are yours. Call us today and let us help you gain relief from carpal tunnel pain and dysfunction.