Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Options: Chiropractic?

Source: Wikipedia.org

Do you have sharp pain that extends from the wrist into all or part of the hand?  Chances are, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.  This pain is caused by pressure put on a major nerve that travels through the wrist.  The median nerve travels through the “carpal tunnel” of  the wrist, hence the name carpal tunnel syndrome.  Common treatment includes surgery, which can cost thousands of dollars, leave scarring, and can take months to recover from.  Alternatively, chiropractic care often provides relief within a matter of days to weeks, is cost effective, and involves minimal to no risk.

Desk workers and people who do a lot of repetitive movements of the hands are most susceptible to the condition.  The repetitive motion can cause build up the musculature of the wrist and cause a build up of adhesions/scar tissue.  This build-up of material, in combination with bone misalignment can narrow the carpal tunnel, putting pressure on the nerve.  The bone most often suspect, is the lunate bone, a small wrist bone.
Often a simple chiropractic adjustment at the lunate bone can relieve the pain at the wrist.  However to have truly effective results we must assess and treat the entire upper extremity and neck and thoracic spine for misalignment.  Putting the entire skeletal structure in alignment from the wrist to the neck prevents the lunate from going out of alignment so quickly.  Soft tissue trigger point therapy and stretching will help for lasting and quick results.

Every case is different, dependent upon the severity of the case, patient age, pre-existing conditions, etc., the treatment plan will differ.  For most cases you should expect several weeks of treatment at two to three times per week.  Pain relief often comes quickly, following through with a recommended treatment plan will help to prevent re occurrences of the condition.
​
Dr. Ryan Spurgeon, DC, BCAO – November 2013
Your Olathe and Kansas City Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Practitioner

---