Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Symptoms by body part:

Lateral Hand/Carpal
Acute Pain
Numbness
Medial Hand/Carpal
Acute Pain
Numbness

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist in the area known as the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is a passageway formed in the wrist located between the carpal bones and the overlying transverse carpal ligament (called the flexor retinaculum). The tendons for the flexor muscles of the hand also travel through this opening. The median nerve supplies innervation to the palmar surface of the thumb and into the 2nd, 3rd and half of the 4th digits and the fingertips.

Is Chiropractic Neurology right for me? 

You may be wondering if your condition or symptoms are complicated enough to require a neurology expert? Our diagnosis and treatment fits every complexity, from the most simple strains/sprains to complex carpal tunnel issues that have failed other treatments. Our extensive post-doctoral neurology training is interwoven into the deep fabric of our treatments, often unbeknownst to our patients. Many of the conditions or symptoms that may be related to the cause of carpal tunnel are:

  • Pain, numbness or tingling that radiates down one arm or both arms
  • Pain in wrist, hand or forearm that wakes you up at night
  • Tingling/numbness in hand (in the area of the thumb pad, thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger)
  • Muscle weakness in the thumb, and first three fingers
  • Muscle wasting (a decrease in the prominence of the pad of the hand)
  • Neck pain
  • Pain that radiates down into the shoulder or shoulder blade
  • Pain at the base of the skull
  • Pain at the base of the neck where it meets your shoulders
  • Shoulder pain
  • First rib dysfunction and pain
  • Upper back and neck tension
  • Upward, shallow breathing that causes excessive tensioning on neck and upper back muscles
  • Poor posture

*If we didn't list your condition or symptom, it may be something that we treat, but please contact us to see if it's something we work with. 

As Chiropractic Neurologists, we extensively trained in neurology, orthopedics, physical therapy and rehabilitation, incorporating functional neuroplasticity retraining, reintegrating all aspects of your dysfunction. Whether the injury is due to muscle, joint, nerve, brain, or likely a combination, our extensive, post-doctoral neurology education allows us to diagnose the true source of your carpal tunnel. Our greater understanding of how your muscles, joints, nerves, and brain interact to form normal function enables us to locate the roots of dysfunction and design a specific treatment plan to aid in your recovery.

Our ChiropracticNneurologists treat all parts of your problem, incorporating a deep understanding of the spine, muscles, nerves and brain. We address not only the physical components of joints and muscles, but also the interconnections of our nerves and brain that create that majestic, integrated system that is you, allowing us to restore function to the most complex disorders and symptoms by reconnecting healthy communication and function. By utilizing the most effective, scientifically proven treatments we're able to enhance joint mobility, restore nerve signaling, reduce muscle tension, and create accurate brain mapping that is essential for normal, symptom-free function. 

Our approach is different, we do more than just adjust your wrist, neck and spine, we incorporate aspects of stretching, strengthening, electrical muscle stimulation, active muscle release, percussor muscle therapy, disc decompression, graston therapy, neurological rehabilitation and taping to reintegrate function and health at every level of dysfunction, restoring optimal health. 

We treat many difficult and complex conditions and symptoms related to neck pain and headaches, often many that have failed treatments by other doctors. Our chiropractic neurology approach can often locate what's missing as we look in depth at all systems and their interactions through the nervous system. Once we have located the problem(s), we then create a specific treatment plan to address and restore function to all of the involved structures and connections, creating complete restoration for the individual as symptoms abate.

In addition to our carpal tunnel rehabilitation, we also offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, both deep pressure with pure oxygen and mild pressure chambers with concentrated oxygen. Research has shown that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has tremendous healing effects on tissue healing. We've seen many miraculous recoveries with the help of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Our patients usually receive a combination of chiropractic neurology rehabilitation and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the fastest, complete healing and return you to normal function (sometimes better!). 

 

 

 

What causes it?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is typically caused by repetitive use/motion of the wrists and hands, trauma, restrictions in the joints due to abnormal angulation, increased muscular tone in the upper body, or by increased fluid levels in the body (such as with pregnancy) which increase the pressure in the small space in the wrist, compressing the median nerve.

A number of factors can cause this to occur, these include:

  • Posture
    • internally rotated shoulder
    • increased flexion and internal rotation of the elbow
    • increased flexion at the wrist
  • Cervical spine contributions (median nerve roots)
  • Upper thoracic spine/rib restrictions (first rib compression region where brachial plexus exits to supply the upper extremity)
  • Brain hemisphericity which creates abnormal muscular patterns leading to increased tone in the flexor muscle groups of the upper extremity

Common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome:

  • Pain in wrist, hand or forearm that can wake you up at night
  • Tingling/numbness in hand (in the area of the thumb pad, thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger)
  • Muscle weakness in the thumb, and first three fingers
  • Muscle wasting (a decrease in the prominence of the pad of the hand)
  • Associated shoulder painAssociated neck pain

How can we treat it?

Once we determine the source of the symptoms via a thorough examination we can treat your particular condition appropriately. First and foremost it is important to address all involved joints and muscles in order to remove the compression on the median nerve and allow for the body to regain normal function. Treatment usually consists of chiropractic adjustments to increase motion in the affected joints, neuromuscular re-education, myofascial mobilization techniques, electrical muscle stimulation, cold laser therapy, home stretches and strengthening exercises. If a brain hemisphericity (an imbalance in the brain’s firing) is the cause of your symptoms treatment will consist of a variety of both musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation in order to appropriately upregulate the frequency of firing in the affected region to properly control muscle tone and joint biomechanics.

Related Articles