Carpal tunnel syndrome is prevalent, affecting between 3% and 6% of adults in the US. This condition causes pain, numbness, tingling, or weakening in your hand or wrist. If these symptoms seem all too familiar, you should arrange a doctor’s visit to have an assessment completed.
Though your doctor will be able to make a diagnosis, you should take his treatment suggestions with a grain of salt. Many doctors suggest harsh treatments (such as steroid injections and surgery), which necessitate post-treatment recovery time and include side effects and risks.
Instead, investigate chiropractic treatment. It is a safe and effective method for carpal tunnel pain relief, targeting the roots of your pain with manual adjustments and manipulations to provide relief. Read on to learn about the causes and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and find out how chiropractors can provide relief.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel syndrome occurs when the tissues in your wrist squeeze one of your hand’s primary nerves, the median nerve. This nerve begins in your cervical spine, runs down your forearm, and then through the narrow carpal tunnel in your wrist. Nerve pressure can happen at several areas along that nerve track, including your spine or wrist.
There are a number of factors that make you more susceptible to carpal tunnel:
- Women are more likely than men to get carpal tunnel.
- People with prior wrist problems.
- People with nerve-damaging conditions (e.g. diabetes).
- People with Inflammatory conditions (e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis).
- People with obesity.
- People who work with vibrating tools must flex their wrists repeatedly while working.
What are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel?
The symptoms of carpal tunnel generally strike the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers and may include the following:
- Burning, itching, or tingling sensation in the palm or fingers.
- Feeling of weakness in your hand.
- Difficulty grasping objects.
- Tingling sensation that moves from your fingers up your arm.
- Shock-like sensation.
- Pain.
- Increased symptoms when doing certain wrist-intensive activities (driving, reading a book).
If you’ve experienced one or more of these symptoms, you should seek chiropractic care as soon as possible. When left untreated, carpal tunnel worsens, permanently damaging your nerve and leading to chronic symptoms. Starting chiropractic treatment early can halt the progression of carpal tunnel syndrome and keep it from doing permanent damage.
What can a chiropractor do for carpal tunnel?
Chiropractors have several techniques and methods to choose from when treating carpal tunnel syndrome. First, they’ll assess your situation to determine the root of your pain; then, they’ll use the assessment to select the optimal treatment option for relief.
Chiropractors take a non-invasive and painless approach to directly addressing your pain points. They use manual adjustments and gentle manipulations of your wrist, elbow, and cervical spine to relieve pressure and realign your body.
If you think you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, starting chiropractic treatment early is essential. If you live near Webster or Rochester in New York, you should head to the experts at O’Dell Family Chiropractic for personalized treatment. Schedule an appointment today.
