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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal
tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve,
which runs from the forearm into the hand,
becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The
carpal tunnel - a narrow, rigid passageway of
ligament and bones at the base of the hand
houses the median nerve and tendons. Sometimes,
thickening from irritated tendons or other
swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the
median nerve to be compressed. The result may be
pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and
wrist, radiating up the arm. Although painful
sensations may indicate other conditions, carpal
tunnel syndrome is the most common and widely
known of the entrapment neuropathies in which
the body's peripheral nerves are compressed or
traumatized.
Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent
burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the
palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the
thumb and the index and middle fingers. Some
carpal tunnel sufferers say their fingers feel
useless and swollen, even though little or no
swelling is apparent. The symptoms often first
appear in one or both hands during the night,
since many people sleep with flexed wrists. A
person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up
feeling the need to "shake out" the hand or
wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel
tingling during the day.
Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to
form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform
other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated
cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may
waste away. Some people are unable to tell
between hot and cold by touch.
Carpal tunnel treatment should be as
conservative and as noninvasive as possible.
For many people suffering from carpal tunnel,
pain relief has been achieved without the use of
drugs or surgery. Surgery has mixed outcomes
and should be viewed only as a last resort after
all conservative methods have failed.
Chiropractors treat many patients suffering from
carpal tunnel syndrome with great success. If
you suffer from carpal tunnel or a similar
condition, we can help. Please contact our
office to schedule an appointment
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