In this day and age of computers, touch screen phones and other hand held devices, carpal tunnel syndrome plays more and more of a role in people’s lives. However, what most people don’t know is that it can be treated and prevented if caught early with chiropractic care. In this article we’ll look at what carpal tunnel syndrome is, what the symptoms are and what chiropractic care, such that is provided by Premier Health Chiropractors, can do to alleviate the issue.
Your hand is comprised of many nerves and tendons. The main nerve, or median nerve, runs through a small opening in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome (or CTS) is a condition where the carpal tunnel is reduced in size through swelling or other factors that put pressure on the median nerve. This pressure can have many different causes, such as illnesses, pregnancy, obesity, repetitive motions, wrist injuries or smoking.
The pressure that CTS causes can be very debilitating. Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pains in the fingers or hand are the common symptoms of CTS. Trying to open a jar or grab a heavy item only to realize that your hand doesn’t work can put a damper on your day. Some have even described feeling pain shooting up their forearm from their wrist to their elbow. Often these symptoms present themselves at night when the body is settling down and the adrenaline from the day is wearing off. The pain that might not have been noticed during the busy moments of a daily routine can usually be felt once we start to relax.
Typical treatments for CTS include prescription drugs from a doctor and even surgery in severe cases. But more and more people are looking for alternative and less invasive ways to treat CTS. Chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to this issue. Usually, a chiropractor will look at not just the wrist area but the upper spine as well, since the nerves that lead to the arms and hands originate in this area. Many times the symptoms of CTS can be traced back to a misalignment in the upper vertebrae. Doctors of chiropractic (DC’s) will recommend adjustments of the wrist joint, possible adjustments of the upper spine, mobilizing the wrist joint through exercises such as yoga and icing the area to reduce swelling. In several case studies, increases in grip strength as well as a decrease in symptoms were noted by patients after chiropractic care.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can destroy your normal day, but it doesn’t have to. With non-invasive and healthy chiropractic treatments, the symptoms can be reduced and the quality of life improved. Contact Premier Health Chiropractors to discuss how you can begin healing carpal tunnel syndrome today.