Carpal Tunnel Syndrome After a Car Accident

One of the common injuries that happen in a car accident is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).  CTS is a condition that causes pain or numbness in the first three fingers of the hand.  You can get it anytime you have swelling in the wrists, that compresses the median nerve.

Usually the swelling is caused by repetitive motions like computer work, assembly work or even knitting.  The overuse causes the tendons in the wrist to swell until they compress the nerve.

However, the wrists can also swell as the result of a car accident.  If your hands were on the steering wheel, at the time of impact, they can be jammed, injuring the wrists and causing them to swell.  This can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Also, if the neck is injured, the median nerve can get irritated where the nerve fibers exit between the bones of the neck.  This injury will cause the same symptoms as CTS, without the wrists being injured.

It is important to have your wrists, arms and neck evaluated if you have pain or numbness after a car accident.  Pain relievers and muscle relaxants do not properly treat these injuries.  They can easily become chronic if not treated correctly.

For more information on CTS treatment, log on to www.relieffromcarpaltunnel.com.  More information on car accident related injuries can be found at www.thechiropracticimpactreport.com