Do you suffer from fatigue, pain, weakness of grip, tingling, stiffness, cramping and numbness in your hands and wrists? These are just a few of the more common symptoms that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in people who perform repetitive motions of the hands and wrist, such as typing. It is a very common and painful disorder that can be treated by your Doctor of Chiropractic.

The carpal tunnel itself is made up of the wrist bones (carpal bones) and a tough ligament that holds these bones together (transverse carpal ligament). Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure being exerted on the median nerve at the point where it passes through this tunnel. The median nerve supplies sensation to the thumb-side of the palm and to the thumb, index finger, middle finger and the ring finger. It also supplies movement to part of the hand.

A quick and easy test to see if you are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome is called Phalen’s Maneuver. Start by putting the backs of your hands together while keeping your arms parallel to the floor and your fingers pointing down. Hold your hands in this position firmly. If you experience any of the previously mentioned symptoms, you probably have the disorder. This test may not be positive in all individuals suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. By performing a thorough exam, your doctor will determine if you have the disorder and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Carpal tunnel syndrome will often progress rapidly if ignored and doesn’t take years to develop as many think. Often enough, just a few mild instances suddenly never go away or are brought on by ever decreasing effort. Injury or trauma to the area, including repetitive movement of the wrists, can cause swelling of the tissues and carpal tunnel syndrome. This type of injury may be caused by sports such as racquetball and tennis, or occur during sewing, typing, driving, assembly-line work, painting, writing or other similar activities involving frequent hand/wrist movements.

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome includes rest, exercise, acupuncture, wrist splints, anti-inflammatory medications, learning stress-reducing movements, making adjustments to the individual’s workstation and possibly surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve. Your Doctor of Chiropractic can show you several ways to relieve the stress and pressure on your hands and wrists and help to alleviate the discomfort of carpal tunnel syndrome.