After a long day of work, it’s not uncommon for people to experience symptoms of pain and discomfort throughout their body. In today’s world, however, everyday activities, such as typing and texting, can often cause more than temporary soreness on the extremities. The repetitive movements of the wrist over time may irritate the surrounding tissues, leading to damage, injury, and even the development of uncomfortable conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a frequently diagnosed medical condition,
characterized by pain, numbness and tingling sensations in the hand and arm. The
well-known condition develops when one of the major nerves which runs through
the hand, medically referred to as the median nerve, is compressed or impinged
as it travels through the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway within the wrist
that is surrounded by rigid tissues, making it minimally capable of stretching
or increasing in size.
The median nerve originates from a bundle of nerve roots
found in the neck. These roots merge into a single nerve in the arm, where it
then travels down the arm and forearm, passing through the carpal tunnel at the
wrist and into the hand. This main nerve functions to provide feeling in the
thumb and index, middle and ring fingers. The median nerve is also in charge of
controlling the muscles around the base of the thumb.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition which may occur
due to a variety of factors. With constant overuse of the hand and wrist, the repeated
motions or activities may result to irritation on the tendons in the wrist,
causing inflammation and swelling to begin applying pressure against the nerve.
Additionally, participating in activities which involve an excessive flexion or
extension of the hand and wrist for extended periods of time can also increase
pressure on the median nerve. On occasion, hormonal changes brought on by
pregnancy can cause swelling. In other cases, the presence of previous
conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, among other, can also be
closely associated with median nerve compression. Furthermore, carpal tunnel
syndrome is believed to be caused by hereditary traits. For some people, the
carpal tunnel passage may be smaller than average and/or other anatomical
differences can in turn change the amount of space between the narrow
passageway and the median nerve, leaving people at risk of developing carpal
tunnel syndrome. Research shows that women and older individuals have a higher
chance of developing this uncomfortable condition.
Fortunately, whether you plan to prevent the development of
carpal tunnel syndrome or you’ve been recently diagnosed with the condition,
there are several effective treatment options available to relieve the painful symptoms
and restore the individuals original hand, wrist and arm function.
Chiropractic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chiropractic care is one of the most common forms of
treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Foremost, a doctor of chiropractic, or
DC, will evaluate the extent of the condition as well as diagnose the
individual to determine any underlying cause behind the condition. After
diagnosis, the chiropractor will follow up with an appropriate treatment
regimen for the individual, according to their specific needs. Through a series
of chiropractic adjustments and manual manipulations, the structures
surrounding the hand, wrist and arm can be slowly adjusted to gradually reduce
the pressure around the median nerve, ultimately reducing the individual’s
symptoms. The chiropractor may also recommend a set of stretches and exercises
to carefully restore the individual’s mobility and rehabilitate them back into
their original state of well-being.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Clinic Location: http://bit.ly/dralexjimenezclinic
