How Chiropractic Care Will Help Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a real problem for up to 6% of adults in the United States. If it goes untreated, it can cause permanent nerve damage and an onslaught of discomfort. While many doctors may suggest the use of steroid injections or even surgery, many people want to take a less invasive, less risky approach.

Chiropractic treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome are safe and effective. If you’re suffering from even mild wrist or hand pain, visiting one of our Tangelo Seattle chiropractic clinics or Portland chiropractor clinic can benefit you big time. 

 

Today we’ll explain:

• What carpal tunnel is

• What carpal tunnel feels like

• What causes carpal tunnel

• How to prevent carpal tunnel

• How a chiropractor can help your carpal tunnel

 

Let’s get going…

 

What is carpal tunnel?

The wrist is composed of the central nerve called the median nerve. The median nerve starts in your neck (cervical spine) and runs down your arm and through to your wrist; the area it passes through in your wrist is called the carpal tunnel. 

When the tissues in the wrist are squeezed or compressed, the median nerve becomes compromised, and carpal tunnel syndrome may develop. You may experience pain, tingling, numbness, and loss of range of motion in your hand, wrist, or arm. 

It’s important to your body’s health and balance that carpal tunnel is treated, as you can cause permanent damage to the median nerve if not. In serious cases, chronic pain and other symptoms can be severe, even leading to surgery. Early detection and chiropractic treatments significantly reduce the risk of surgery. 

 

What does carpal tunnel feel like?

There are a handful of telltale signs you’re suffering from carpal 

tunnel syndrome; however, if treated quickly, the discomfort will be minimized, and the problem can be solved. 

 

Some of the attributes associated with carpal tunnel include:

• Numbness in the wrist, hand, or thumb and fingers

• Tingling in the wrist, hand, or thumb and fingers

• Pain or discomfort in the wrist, hand, or thumb and fingers

• Burning sensations that start in the hand and radiate up the arm

• A feeling of weakness in the wrist or hand

• Inflammation of the hand, wrist, or fingers

• Arm discomfort, both active and at rest

• Hand or wrist discomfort while sleeping

• Loss of range of motion in the hand, wrist, thumb and fingers, or arm

 

Carpal tunnel typically starts as tingling in the fingers. This tingling is usually inconsistent but tends to come more regularly and be more painful over time. If your hand and fingers start to weaken and you have problems holding on to items or completing everyday tasks, seeking attention from a chiropractor is a responsible move. 

At Tangelo, we have a Team of experienced chiropractors that wants to get you back to the lifestyle you’re used to, and our solutions will make that happen.

 

What causes carpal tunnel?

So, why are you feeling this pain? When the median nerve experiences pressure, it shows up as discomfort in the hand or wrist. This pressure can lead to loss of blood flow and swelling. 

There are some conditions that make you more likely to get carpal tunnel, including diabetes, pregnancy, high blood pressure, and trauma to the wrist.

However often, overuse, repeated motion, and overextension play a significant role.

 

Some patients we’ve worked with who have carpal tunnel include:

• Those who spend hours a day on computers, working a keyboard and a mouse

• Those in construction, using power tools that are often bulky and vibrate

• Those involved in sports, exercise, or weightlifting

• Those who play piano or other musical instruments

• Those who draw, paint, or write by hand

 

How to prevent carpal tunnel

If you have carpal tunnel but have no intention of terminating the things you love to do, don’t worry. Chiropractic care and exercises will help. But maybe you want to stop the carpal tunnel before it starts. 

If you know you have diabetes or high blood pressure, or any condition that exacerbates carpal tunnel syndrome, you should try to reduce those factors. Be sure to treat your conditions, to treat carpal tunnel, so you don’t take on this new one. 

If your job or activities involve repetitive hand movements or prolonged sedentary hand positions, be mindful of your hand positioning. Our clinic can show you proper hand posture that will allow you to keep doing the things you enjoy while maintaining your health. 

Be sure not to overextend your wrist and use preventative exercises and stretches that keep the wrist strong and balanced. 

 

How to treat carpal tunnel

As with all chiropractic solutions, to treat carpal tunnel, we start at the root of the problem. Finding the cause will allow us to keep the healing process streamlined and consistent. Our Team will evaluate your cervical spine and your hand and wrist joints and nerves to determine where the issue has started.

 

Some of the treatments we may provide include:

• The Graston Technique – a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) 

• Active Release Technique (ART)– a manual soft tissue therapy  

• Exercises and stretches to do at home

• Rehabilitative treatments 

 

How will I heal from carpal tunnel?

Depending on the severity of your injury, carpal tunnel can take days, weeks, or months to recover from. Our chiropractors will find the unique plan for you and your needs. We are prepared to get your carpal tunnel care underway through safe, reliable solutions. 

If you’re ready to start, book an appointment today.