Blog Discussions on Carpal Tunnel

Denver Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Patients often wonder, “Why do I have carpal tunnel syndrome? What can cause this condition, and what can make me particularly prone to it?”

What Actions Provoke Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Grabbing objects while the wrist is flexed is a movement that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Movements like using the mouse of a computer terminal incorrectly causes pinching of the nerve that causes this painful disorder.

What Conditions Aggravate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The tunnel that runs through the wrist to carry the nerve associated with carpal tunnel syndrome can be narrowed by the following; arthritis, swelling, fractures or broken bones. This interferes with the nerve that leads to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Who Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Effect?
Women are particularly prone to carpal tunnel syndrome, although men can be affected as well. The most common onset is age 40-50, although a person of any age can have it. The symptoms can be present in one wrist or both. Usually the dominant hand is the one involved.

If you would like the advantage of a special approach to carpal tunnel syndrome, call our center. If you mention this article, you are entitled to a FREE examination and special report with your spouse or significant other. Call (303) 394-CARE (2273).

Carpal Tunnel and Yellow Dye No. 5

The more technology steps in and takes over our food supply, the more we need to be aware of the side effects of these “advances.” Food companies are using more and more chemicals in their products to cut down on costs, but is it really helping the rest of us? The Denver Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Health Center is here to help you keep abreast of these developments.

Yellow dye no. 5 has become a popular topic in alternative health circles. Research suggests a connection between vitamin B6 and the yellow dye which affects carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers. This information has not crossed over to the main stream medical community, presumably because it doesn’t have anything to do with drugs.

What is Yellow Dye No. 5?
This dye is known by a couple other names, such as Tartrazine (the proper name) and E102. Yellow dye is used as a food coloring and has been banned in several european countries.

Evidence shows that yellow dye no. 5 is associated with asthma, hyperactivity, hives, eczema and irritability. Removing this chemical from your diet can help relieve all of these issues and more. Any processed foods or beverages that are colored yellow or orange are suspect and should be checked for this agent. The brighter the color, (which encompasses just about all kids’ focused foods), the more you should worry. Also be sure to look for it in drugs, like liquid cough medicines.

Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is commonly used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. It is an essential vitamin for the nervous system. It plays an important role in the formation of all steroid hormones, such as the sex hormones and cortisones, which help fight inflammation. B6 plays a large role in reducing inflammation throughout the body. This explains why a deficiency in this vitamin can aggravate or bring on carpal tunnel syndrome.

Yellow dye no. 5 has been shown to cause a deficiency in B6. Other underlying causes include excess alcohol, smoking, and many prescription drugs, including corticosteroids, estrogen and diuretics for lowering blood pressure.
The most a person should take is a daily dose of 200 mg of B6. Doses of 50 mg two or three times daily helps most people with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Food sources of vitamin B6 include avocados, salmon, chicken, pork, turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, brown rice, sunflower seeds, chick peas, bok choy, barley, bananas, and mangoes.

If you think you may have CTS and live in the Denver, CO area, or if you have any questions about this topic, contact Dr. Visentin D.C., Call this Denver carpal tunnel specialist at (303) 394-CARE (2273).

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most expensive work-related injuries. A carpal tunnel patient loses approximately $30,000 in time absent from work and medical bills over the course of their lifetime. CTS is prevalent in adults, and over 75% of all patients are women. The stronger hand is generally affected first and the pain can be quite severe. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is very common in workers in sewing, cleaning, meatpacking, manufacturing and other similar industries. Despite the common perception, according to recent research, data entry workers, (up to 7 hours a day at a computer) are not more likely to develop CTS.

So what exactly is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
CTS involves the median nerve, which runs from the neck to the hand. The pain occurs when this nerve gets compressed inside the carpal tunnel, which is a narrow tunnel in the wrist. The tunnel is made up of bones and soft tissues, such as tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels. Compression in this area results in pain, weakness, and possibly even numbness in both the hand and wrist. Pain can also move up into the forearm.

What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Feelings of itching, tingling, burning or numbness in the palm of the hand as well as the thumb, index, and middle fingers are most common. There are documented complaints from patients with CTS who say that their fingers feel swollen and useless, though there is little or no swelling. The symptoms often first appear while the patient is sleeping and worsen throughout the day. This causes weakened grip strength and will make it difficult to form a fist or hold small items.

Why does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome develop?
Some of it has to do with size. Some people simply have smaller carpal tunnels than others. CTS can also develop due to an injury to the wrist. It can be related to any of the following:

• swelling
  
• hypothyroidism
  
• diabetes
• inflammatory arthritis
  
• over-activity of the pituitary gland and
  
• mechanical problems in the wrist joint.
  

Poor ergonomics in the work environment, repeated use of vibrating hand tools and fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause are also common causes.

How is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome diagnosed?
CTS can and should be diagnosed and treated early. An advanced physical examination can help determine if your symptoms are related to this malady. A Doctor of Chiropractic, such as Dr. Visentin, can use specific tests to evaluate the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

What is the treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Generally, the care includes:

• Resting the affected hand and wrist,
  
• Avoiding activities that may worsen symptoms,
  
• Immobilizing the wrist in a splint to avoid further damage from twisting or bending,
  
• Applying cool packs to help reduce swelling from inflammation, and
  
• Special adjustments to the wrist using a gentle instrument.
  

Studies have shown that vitamin B6 supplements can also help relieve CTS symptoms.
Chiropractic joint adjustments to the wrist and hand, as well as stretching and strengthening exercises or soft-tissue mobilization techniques are essential.

How can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome be prevented?
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recommends the following:

• Perform on-the-job conditioning, such as stretching and light exercises.
  
• Take frequent rest breaks,
  
• Wear splints to help keep the wrists straight,
  
• Use fingerless gloves to help keep the hands warm and flexible,
  
• Use correct posture and wrist positions, and receive
  
• Regular chiropractic adjustments.
  

This brief article only scratches the surface of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If you think you may have CTS and live in the Denver, CO area, or if you have any questions about this topic, contact Dr. Visentin D.C. at (303) 394- CARE (2273)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Anti-Inflammatory Dietary Recommendations

Have you noticed more and more that your cashier at the grocery store or the clerk at the DMV is wearing a splint on their wrist? Carpal tunnel syndrome has become more and more common amongst hard workers who go through repetitive motions daily and have inflammation at their wrist as a result. Whether you are in Denver or somewhere else in the US carpal tunnel syndrome is prevalent. Carpal tunnel symptoms consist of numbness and tingling at your wrist and usually into your first three fingers.

It happens from irritation of the median nerve, which passes through the tunnel. Some carpal tunnel sufferers describe their fingers as feeling useless or swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. They could be experiencing excessive inflammation in their body, which is the cause of the median nerve irritation. Consider these anti-inflammatory dietary changes to decrease inflammation and recover the normal function of your hands:

• Eliminate food allergies - If you think you are allergic to something, keep a food diary and pay attention to if you become congested after eating certain foods, if you wake up feeling congested, if you get skin rashes, feel wheezy, or even just tired. You could be allergic to something you are eating. Common food allergies include dairy, nuts, eggs, and gluten. Any allergic reaction causes an inflammatory state in your system that can affect more than just your stomach.
• Include omega 3 fish oil – Omega 3 fatty acids are extremely effective in reducing systemic inflammation. They are great for cardiovascular health, allergies, and neural enhancement. Talk to your chiropractor more about the benefits of omega 3 fish oils.
• Avoid nightshade vegetables – While you should be consuming a lot of vegetables, night hade varieties may not be the best choice. These include peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes mainly and can have inflammatory effects for some people with sensitivities to them. Nightshades are high in alkaloid solanine, which can rise to toxic levels and interfere with nerve impulses, and cause jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness. As mentioned, some people are more sensitive to nightshades than others, which could be a cause for the inflammation widespread in the rest of their body.
• Include ginger and pineapple in your diet – These foods have high anti-inflammatory properties.

Don’t forget to take your vitamins – Vitamins C, D, B6, and B12 all have anti-inflammatory effects. Talk to you chiropractor today to see what they recommend.

Denver Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients Love Our Care

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is an irritation of a nerve in the wrist. Nerves from the neck go to the wrist. If the neck is healthy and there is no pressure on the delicate nerves that go to the wrist, the chances of suffering carpal tunnel syndrome are lessened greatly.

Our methods help carpal tunnel syndrome by taking the pressure off the delicate nerves that go to the hand. This pressure can come from wrist and neck problems. If your fingers or your hand tingles, call (303) 394-CARE (2273).

The three scientific articles cited below, help explain why what we do works.

Double crush syndrome: what is the evidence? Swenson RS. J Neuromusculoskeletal System, Spring 1993; 1(1):23-29.

Double crush syndrome: cervical radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. Osterman AL, Pfeffer G, Chu J, et al. Presented at the 41st annual American Society of Surgery of the Hand, New Orleans, LA 1986. Describes the double crush syndrome in detail.

The relationship of the double crush syndrome (an analysis of 1,000 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome). Hurst LC, Weissberg D, Carroll RE. J Hand Surg 10B:202, 1985. A significant correlation was found between bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and radiologically diagnosed cervical arthritis.

Stop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The best way to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome is to not stress the wrist. Repeated movements, poor work place habits, computer terminals, and keyboards, can create problems with this delicate area of the body and over time create carpal tunnel syndrome, or C.T.S.

Here is a short list of things to do:

• Keep Your Wrists Straight. Bending your wrist creates pressure on the median nerve that runs through the structures that make up the “carpal tunnel” in the wrist.
  - Avoid Activities That Force The Wrist To Bend Repeatedly. Activities such as painting, sewing, and crocheting put pressure on the delicate and sensitive median nerve, that lets us feel things with our hands.
  
• Don’t Do Push-Ups. Push ups are the worst exercise for carpal tunnel sufferers. This prolonged and forceful wrist extension with pressure compresses the nerve involved with this all too common syndrome.
  
• Use Ice. Massaging the thin skin of the wrist with a piece of ice for 5-20 minutes can offer great relief for C.T.S. patients.
• See Your Chiropractor. The science of chiropractic focuses on removing interference with the nerves involved with carpal tunnel syndrome.
  

There is a lot more you can do to help yourself avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’d like, we can set a time to review the most common causes of carpal tunnel problems and reveal what you can do about them. To set an appointment or to schedule a presentation for your co-workers, call (303) 394-CARE (2273). These services are FREE, when you mention this article.

Stop C.T.S.!

What if you could have an expert teach you and your co-workers what to do to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome at work? What if it was a program that was free, fun, and would give you everything you may need to avoid this all to common condition?

Our clinic is sponsoring a program for business and industry called “Will You Survive The Computer Terminal?” Here is the information to email your boss and human resources office.

“Will You Survive The Computer Terminal?”
Have Doctor Speak To Your Group For Free

• Headaches?
• Back Pain?
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Numbness or Tingling?
• Excessive Pain?

Learn To Create Your Best Work Environment

“Dr. Visentin D.C. is both informative and entertaining. I give him my highest recommendation.” - Ed Tate, World Champion of Public Speaking

“Very Energetic, easy to listen to and an amazing story teller.”- Leanna Whitcher, Training Coordinator Health Trans

“Humor and story telling a great hit…audience engrossed in your talk.”- Peggy M. Dawson, Chair-Staff Advisory Council Regis University

303-394-CARE
Avoid O.S.H.A. Citations – Create a safe and healthy work environment.

Surgery Is Dangerous

Research shows that carpal tunnel surgery is ineffective in many instances. Patients continue to have the same pain or worse. The best surgeons recommend:

• The most conservative measures first.
• Medications second, (all drugs have side effects).
• Surgery should be the last resort, surgery is dangerous.

Before you even think about surgery, read this clinical case history.

“I had numbness in my right hand and was referred to a hand specialist but felt he would probably recommend surgery. As I have already had a few surgeries, I felt I would really like to avoid anymore, at least for a while. I began receiving chiropractic adjustments about six weeks ago. I can tell that the numbness is gradually going away-for longer periods of time, as care goes on.” -P. Gabriels
Chiropractic is conservative. Doctors of chiropractic gently realign the bones of the wrist taking pressure off the nerve involved with carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve.

If you’re wondering if you can avoid “the knife”, call our center now, (303) 394-CARE (2273).

What To Do For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Patients who suffer with carpal tunnel syndrome want results, not theory. They demand to know what they can do to get relief. Here’s a list of things to do that work;

• Take breaks regularly, especially at the computer terminal, cash register, etc…
  
• Apply ice directly over the palm and delicate skin of the wrist for 5-20 minutes, three times a day.
  
• Ask for help when moving objects.
  
• Call Dr. Visentin, D.C. and set up a free ergonomic workshop at your place of business, (303) 394-CARE (2273).
  
• Do gentle range of motion exercises throughout the day. Move your wrists up and down and side to side. Avoid forcing these movements.
  
• Call our center to determine the exact cause of your carpal tunnel problem.
  
• Ask your family to help you while you recover.
  
• Meditate, pray, or visualize white healing light healing your hands and wrists three times a day.
  
• Sleep with a pillow that restores the curve in your neck. Carpal tunnel symptoms are often caused or aggravated by bones out of place in the
  spine.
  
• Change hands frequently with activities involving the wrist.
  
• At the computer, avoid twisting your wrist or awkward wrist positions when using the mouse. Relax your hands and wrists.
  
• Drink lots of water. Take a multi-vitamin, and an extra supplement of B complex that includes vitamin B-6 (or pyroxidine).
  
• Call our center for a free carpal tunnel consultation. Without care your problems may get worse, and waiting is dangerous.

Let’s find out what’s causing your problem and do something about it.

Carpal Tunnel First Aid

Our patients do very well with carpal tunnel syndrome and consistently avoid having surgery. One of the things they learn at our center is how to care for themselves when they are at work or at home so they don’t aggravate their condition.

Here’s What We Tell Them Not To Do

• Anything that aggravates their condition
  
• Push ups
  
• Avoid dry heating pads, (hot moist heat however, is fine)
  
• Avoid prolonged forceful use of the hands and wrists
  
• Avoid power tools
  
• Avoid heavy lifting and pushing movements
  
• Avoid flexing or extending the wrists forcefully
  
• Eliminate alcohol, coffee, and smoking

If you need additional information, schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Visentin, D.C. (303) 394-CARE (2273).

Carpal Tunnel Q&A

At our Denver Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Health Center we get a lot of questions about this syndrome. As we become more sedentary in our life and work we tend to become more focused on using tools like our cell phone to text, the computer and video games. With this repetitive motion for prolonged periods of time carpal tunnel syndrome has become more and more prevalent. Here are some answers about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that we often get asked about in our clinic.

A: There is a nerve that originates in your neck, travels the length of your arms, goes through your carpal tunnel at your wrists, and ends down at your first three fingers called the median nerve. When the median nerve gets irritated or inflamed, you get numbness and tingling in your arm and fingers along the nerve pathway.

A: There are a number of places that your median nerve can be entrapped or irritated, but the most common place is your carpal tunnel. You carpal tunnel consists of the bones in your wrist and a strip of connective tissue called the flexor retinaculum. These structures form a tunnel where muscles, blood vessels, and the median nerve pass through. When your wrist bones are not in their proper place from a trauma or repetitive abnormal posture, this can create a smaller tunnel, which encroaches on the median nerve. If the muscles in your forearm are inflamed, this can also cause median nerve irritation.

A: Since your median nerve runs from your neck down to your fingers, there are a few places that it can become entrapped and irritated. There is a muscle in your forearm called the pronator terres that rotates your palm up and down. The median nerve passes through this muscle and if you have a job where you are repetitively using this muscle, the median nerve can become irritated and entrapped by adhesive tissue. Someone who uses a screwdriver repetitively can experience this, or a hair dresser for example.

A: One of the first and most effective ways of reducing or eliminating the numbness and tingling into your hands is to get your wrists checked by your chiropractor. When the tiny bones in your wrist are not moving like they should be, you get muscle and nerve irritation, causing your symptoms. A specific chiropractic adjustment increases the motion of your bones and relieves the pressure around the nerve, decreasing the irritation. There are also forearm stretches that you can do to decrease the tension of your muscles. Talk to your chiropractor about stretches and ways to break up scar tissue, so that your median nerve is free to move without irritation.

Hidden Cause Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Why are carpal tunnel syndrome patients visiting our clinic? Isn’t Dr. Visentin, D.C. a spine doctor? What does the spine have to do with tingly hands?

The article sited below is more scientific proof that shows how carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers may benefit from our care. We remove pressure from the nerves that go to the wrists, from the neck.

People with healthy spines have fewer health problems and much less chance of suffering carpal tunnel syndrome.

Spinal Manipulation, 5th edition by Bourdillon JE, Day EA, Bookhout MR: Oxford, England, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd, 1992:
“Faulty innervation caused by spinal joint lesions is one of the main factors in the production of carpal tunnel syndrome.” P. 207.
If you suspect you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, call (303) 394-CARE (2273) now. We’ll examine your wrists and your spine, to see if it’s contributing to your pain. This special carpal tunnel exam is FREE when you mention this article on your first visit.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

In our Denver Carpal Tunnel Health Center we see patients with carpal tunnel symptoms which affect their daily activities at work, recreation, and even sleeping. Usually carpal tunnel syndrome produces pain, numbness, and tingling into the first three fingers on the palmer surface of your hand. The cause is irritation or entrapment of your median nerve at the carpal tunnel of your wrist.

To diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor will take you through a series of sensory, motor, reflex, and orthopedic tests to determine exactly where the median nerve irritation is happening. Carpal tunnel-like symptoms can also come from entrapment of the median nerve somewhere other than the carpal tunnel. Other places that it can be trapped are closer to the elbow and the shoulder. Other causes may be irritation of a spinal nerve originating from your neck and ending in the same fingers innervated by the median nerve. These symptoms may look and feel very similar, but the causes are completely different. That is why it is so important to have a thorough exam done on your wrist, arm, and neck to get to the root of the cause of your problem. There is no sense in only treating your wrist if the problem is originating from your neck.

A few easy things that you can do to alleviate your carpal tunnel symptoms are to get your wrist adjusted by your chiropractor to ease the pressure off of the median nerve. You have eight little bones in your wrist and when one of them is out of place, it can create muscle spasm and inflammation in the carpal tunnel, causing the median nerve to be stressed. Also talk to your chiropractor about wearing a cock up splint to keep the carpal tunnel as open as possible while you are working or sleeping. Pay attention to how you sleep. Many people curl their wrists in at night, putting unnecessary pressure on the median nerve, which results in numbness and tingling in their hands.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that is preventable, correctible, and rehabilitative. Talk to your chiropractor more about the cause of your carpal tunnel syndrome and start taking steps today to alleviate your pain and discomfort.

Denver C.T.S.

Why are carpal tunnel syndrome patients visiting doctors of chiropractic? Aren’t chiropractors spine doctors? What does the spine have to do with tingly hands?

The article sited below is scientific proof of how carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers may benefit from our care. We remove pressure from the nerves that go to the wrists. The nerves that supply the wrist come from the neck. The nerve that is irritated when someone has carpal tunnel syndrome may be irritated by neck bones or wrist bones out of place. When the neck and wrist pinch the nerves that go to the hand, scientists call it a “double crush syndrome”.

Double crush syndrome: chiropractic care of an entrapment neuropathy. Mariano KA; Mcdougle MA; Tanksley Gw. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological therapeutics, 1991 May, 14(4) : 262-5.
Discusses the relationship between double crush syndrome and chiropractic care.

People with healthy spines have fewer health problems and much less chance of suffering carpal tunnel syndrome. We help reduce nerve interference from both the neck and the wrist.

If you suspect you may have carpal tunnel syndrome call (303) 394-CARE (2273) now.

Don't Let Them Chop On Your Wrists

Before considering surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, the best surgeons will recommend conservative care first. At our center in east Denver, we offer safe, gentle, and effective care for this painful disorder. Read the following case history from one of our many patients that avoided “the knife”.

“I had been having great discomfort in my hands for quite some time before I began care with Dr. V. I broke several dishes because of it, and I always felt like my fingers were covered with grit. They tingled and kept me in constant pain. At night, I would have to elevate my hands for relief.

I went to see a doctor about the problem. He stuck eight long needles in each side of my arm and then gave me shock treatments. It was very painful and didn’t help at all. The doctor told me that if my condition did not improve, I would have to have surgery for nerve blockage.

I did not like the idea of surgery, so my husband told me to try something else. He had been having problems with his hip before we married and had seen a chiropractor for the problem. I looked for a chiropractor and found Dr. V. He began treating me, and I have improved greatly. I told him that I was at the point where I would do anything to stop the pain. His treatments have me feeling much better. I sleep more comfortably, and my hands aren’t bothering me nearly as much these days. I can even ball my fists up without pain. My fingers don’t feel gritty anymore either. It works! – D.R.

Always, always, always get a second opinion before considering surgery. Often times, even patients who were assured they were surgical candidates recover quickly at our center.

Don’t let them chop on your wrists needlessly, call (303) 394-CARE (2273).

Denver Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Why are carpal tunnel syndrome patients visiting doctors of chiropractic? Aren’t chiropractors spine doctors? What does the spine have to do with tingly hands?

The article sited below is scientific evidence that shows how carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers may benefit from chiropractic care. Chiropractors remove pressure from the nerves that go to the wrists, from the neck.

People with healthy spines have fewer health problems and much less chance of suffering carpal tunnel syndrome.

A treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome: evaluation of objective and subjective measures. Bonebrake AR, Fernandez JE, Marley RJ et al. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 13 No.9 Nov/Dec 1990.
Thirty eight CTS sufferers underwent spinal manipulation and extremity adjusting, soft tissue manipulation, dietary changes and daily exercises. Post treatment results showed improvement in all strength and range of motion measures. A significant reduction of nearly 15% in pain and distress ratings was documented.

If you suspect you may have carpal tunnel syndrome call (303) 394-CARE (2273) now.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome How Does This Happen?

When a nerve in your wrist is irritated, you may experience numbness in the thumb and first three fingers. The pinky finger is not involved in carpal tunnel syndrome. There are several causes; most commonly: computer terminal work, cash register work, repetitive movements of the wrist, vibration, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, pregnancy, obesity, wrist injuries, smoking, and neck problems.

Stop any activities that may be causing numbness, switch hands often if possible, avoid flexing or extending your wrist, and restrict salt intake.

At our center, we offer a special technique that dramatically reduces pressure on the nerve that causes carpal tunnel syndrome. If a small bone in the wrist is slightly misplaced, this can lead to numbness and tingling over the nerves to the fingers. By re-aligning the “lunate” bone in the wrist, we offer carpal tunnel syndrome patients relief without drugs and surgery.

Call Dr. Visentin now, for a free consultation without obligation (303) 394-CARE(2273).

Identify and Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome involves a nerve called the median nerve. The median nerve originates from your neck and travels down your arm, through what is called the carpal tunnel at your wrist. With chronic abnormal posture of your wrist or excessive typing at a computer, the structures in the carpal tunnel can become inflamed or tight, causing irritation of the median nerve. This results in numbness and tingling in your first three fingers.

Another cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is from your wrist bones shifting from a fall or repetitive trauma, causing the carpal tunnel to collapse in on itself. Now, though this sounds traumatic, do not panic! It usually consists of tiny movements of the wrist bones, similar to the movement of the rest of your spinal vertebrae. There are 8 little bones in your wrist, which are meant to be mobile. When they become subluxated, or slightly knocked out of place, the carpal tunnel, which is like an arced bridge going over water can become flatter and thereby put unnecessary pressure on the median nerve. This again can cause numbness and tingling in your fingers.

No! Since the median nerve travels down the entire length of your arm, there are numerous places that it can become entrapped, causing carpal tunnel-like symptoms. The most common of these, second to the carpal tunnel is in a muscle called the pronator teres muscle in your forearm. This can be present in a lot of carpenters who use screwdrivers all day for example. Your chiropractor is able to fully assess the cause and location of the entrapped nerve so that you can be confident that you are getting to the source of the problem.

The most effective way of preventing carpal tunnel syndrome is by practicing good ergonomics at work, especially if you type a lot at a computer. A few things to keep in mind at your work station are:

• Sit with your ear in line with your shoulder, elbow, and knees
• Keep a 90 degree bend in both your arms and legs while sitting at your desk and typing
• Adjust your keyboard to a height that allows your wrists to be in a neutral position while typing
• Place your computer screen monitor at eye level

If you start experiencing carpal tunnel symptoms, consult your chiropractor so that you can get the median nerve gliding through the carpal tunnel as soon as possible. Secondly, gently stretch your forearm by fully extending your arm with your palm facing upward. Grab your fingers with your opposite hand and apply a slight downward pressure to stretch the muscles in your forearm. And thirdly, be conscious of how you sleep. Many people have the habit of sleeping with their wrists curled inward, which can be irritating to the median nerve. Ask your chiropractor about wrist braces that prevent this. There is no reason for you to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. Talk to your chiropractor today about the cause of your pain and how to prevent it in the future!

Causes and Cures for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

You should definitely talk to you medical doctor and chiropractor about all of your options for dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome. Surgery is one of those options; however, it may not be the one for you. If you are not addressing the cause of your carpal tunnel syndrome, surgery may do little to affect the outcome.

One of the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome is inflammation in the wrist that irritates the median nerve, which passes through the carpal tunnel. This can be caused from chronic abnormal wrist posture, falling on an outstretched hand, or simple repetitive injuries that inflame the surrounding structures in your wrist. The most common type of surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is done by cutting a band of tissue that encases the tunnel called the transverse retinaculum. This can relieve some of the pressure in the carpal tunnel, thereby taking the stress off of the median nerve. There are two problems that arise from this scenario; that may not be the cause of your carpal tunnel syndrome and by piercing the retinaculum, your wrist may become less stable.

If your median nerve is not entrapped at your wrist, it is no longer called carpal tunnel syndrome. However, you can experience the same type of symptoms. For instance, the second most common entrapment site for the median nerve is at a muscle called the pronator teres muscle in your forearm.One way to test this yourself is by applying slight pressure to the muscle just below your elbow on the outside of your arm and rotating your forearm. If this recreates the numbness or tingling in your first three fingers, you may have pronator teres syndrome. Talk to your chiropractor about this possibility to find out.

Another very common place for the median nerve to become entrapped is at your neck. The median nerve arises from your neck, so if you have a neck subluxation found by your chiropractor, it may be the cause of the numbness and tingling into your fingers. A subluxation is slight misalignment of your bones, causing there to be stress on and around your nerves. This can cause inflammation, irritation, decreased range of motion, pain, and other symptoms. Get checked by your chiropractor today to find the cause of your carpal tunnel symptoms before you decide to go under the knife.

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