Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common condition that can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the palm and the arm. In most patients, it can get worse over time, which is why early diagnosis and treatment is incredibly important.
If Carpal Tunnel Syndrome stays undiagnosed for too long, it can lead to nerve damage and may even require surgery. Chiropractors Lawrenceville can help identify the root cause behind Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and successfully relieve its symptoms without any medication or surgery.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The Carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway located on the palm side of the wrist, which is made of ligaments and bones. The median nerve that runs through this passageway controls the sensations and movements of the first three fingers as well as the thumb.
The roof of the Carpal tunnel is made up of a strong band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. Since the boundaries of the carpal tunnel are rather rigid, there is very little space for the carpal tunnel to stretch or increase in size. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tunnel becomes narrower or when the tissues surrounding it start to swell, putting pressure on the passageway and the median nerve.
There can be many reasons behind Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but the exact reason can often be impossible to pinpoint. Women are three times more likely to suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but the exact reason behind it is also unknown.
In most cases, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be caused by a combination of different factors, including:
- Heredity: The size of the carpal tunnel may be smaller than usual for some people because of hereditary reasons which can make them more prone to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Repetitive usage of the wrist: People who have to repeatedly use their wrist everyday for cooking, chopping, or any other manual work can suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome because the prolonged movement can aggravate the tendons and cause swelling
- Incorrect hand and wrist position: Performing activities that require too much extension of the palm and wrist for a prolonged period like cycling, karate, and baseball can increase the pressure on the median nerve and lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Health condition: If you are already suffering from conditions like arthritis or diabetes, then you are more likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
See Also: How Can a Chiropractor Help With Shoulder Pain?
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in most cases begin gradually, without even an injury. At first, the symptoms may come and go, but as the condition worsens, the symptoms can persist for longer periods of time.
For people that sleep with their wrist bent, the symptoms can get worse during the night. Many people find that shaking or moving their hands helps relieve the symptoms. Some of the common symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, include:
- Tingling, burning, pain, or numbness in the thumb and fingers
- Shock-like sensations in the wrist that radiate throughout the entire palm
- Pain or tingling that travels up to the forearm and the shoulder
- Weakness in the hand which might make it difficult to perform small and fine movements like buttoning up a shirt
- Loss of proprioception (awareness of where your hand is in space)
See Also: Why You should Combine Nutritional Counselling with Chiropractic Care
How can a chiropractor help treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
It is easy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome cases to go undiagnosed or untreated for a long period of time which can lead to further problems and you may even require surgery. However, regular chiropractic care can help resolve these issues without any medication or surgery.
Misalignment of the spine can also lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Chiropractors can help manipulate the wrist and the upper spine to get rid of the symptoms and the swelling. That is because the media nerve that runs through the entire arm and ends at the fingers actually starts at the cervical spine. A misalignment in the spine can lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as well.
They can also help suggest the right exercises to make sure you don’t develop any other symptoms in the future.
Final words
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome surgery doesn’t just have a long recovery period, but it can also have many side effects and complications. Though recurrence only occurs in about 10-25 percent of cases, less than half of the patients feel that their wrist is ever the same. On the other hand, chiropractic sessions are a non-invasive way of treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and they also have minimum downtime.
Call us at 678-505-0000 and visit us at one of our locations in Lawrenceville, Marietta or Morrow. Mention you read our blog article to receive a free appointment!
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