Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) – “Fact Sheet”
What is it?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occurs when a nerve on the palm side of the wrist is pinched. It is named after the area of the wrist where the nerve irritation occurs. The Carpal Tunnel is basically a horseshoe shape made from 8 small carpal bones and the ends of the horseshoe are connected with a ligament. This creates a tunnel where the a nerve called the median nerve and 9 tendons that control your fingers pass through.
What are the symptoms?
CTS symptoms start with pain in the wrist from the swelling of the tendons inside the Carpal Tunnel. When the nerve pinch occurs, numbness, tingling, or a half asleep sensation going into the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers occurs. This is often worse at night due to the wrist being bent when asleep. This often wakes the person and shaking/flicking the hand/fingers is needed to “wake them up.” Grip weakness is also associated with CTS and the person may have difficulty holding onto objects or handling small parts.
What are the causes?
Usually, over use from repetitive work like meat packing, typing, sewing, carpentry and waiting tables. These fast/repetitive movements cause swelling of the 9 tendons of the carpal tunnel which eventually irritates the median nerve. Other causes include hormone related conditions such as hypothyroidism, dysmenorrheal, diabetes, and poor dietary habits. Basically anything that causes the wrists to swell can lead to CTS.
How is it diagnosed?
The history of the symptoms as well as physical examination of the hands, arms, shoulders and neck leads to the correct diagnosis. The exam consists of trying to reproduce the numbness in the fingers by pressing over the wrist and other areas where the nerve runs down the arm (including the neck where the nerve originates), tapping over the Carpal Tunnel with a reflex hammer, bending and holding the wrists at the extreme endpoints of motion. More sophisticated testing includes an EMG (nerve conduction test) that tests the motor and sensory changes when the nerve is pinched.
How is it treated?
Chiropractic approaches include manipulation of the wrist, hand, forearm, shoulder and neck, specifically addressing the areas where the Median nerve can get pinched stretched or irritated. Soft tissue therapy includes massage and physical therapy modalities such as low level laser. Exercise training to stretch and strengthen the wrists and forearms is very helpful. Nutritional counseling and supplementation is often necessary.
You May be a candidate for a treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome without Drugs or Surgery! For More information, log on to: www.relieffromcarpaltunnel.com
Or To Schedule a FREE no obligation consultation with me, Dr. Paul Kramer, call Leah or Jennifer at 262-251-8306
