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Your grip may not feel as firm as usual, and you may feel tingling and numbness in your fingers and wrist - and possibly pain in your hands and wrist so intense that it awakens you at night. There may be similar symptoms in the upper arm, elbow, shoulder, or neck. The pain in the hands and wrist may increase when the wrist is flexed and decrease when it is extended. Sometimes shaking the hands affords relief - sometimes not. These are some of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome or CTS.

Where is the carpal tunnel?

You won't find the carpal tunnel on any map - this tunnel is in your wrist. The wrist (carpal) bones form a tunnel-like structure - the carpal tunnel - through which pass nine tendons and one nerve - the median nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome (also known as occupational neuritis, partial thenar atrophy, and median neuritis) occurs when the median nerve is pinched or pressured.

CTS is a common condition. According to some authorities, the syndrome may affect one out of ten Americans who work with their hands. In fact, the incidence of carpal tunnel disability has become a significant, costly problem to industry.

Carpal tunnel syndrome often occurs in people who do repetitive tasks - housewives, secretaries, meat cutters, assembly line workers, carpenters, musicians. In these instances, it is referred to as a repetitive trauma disorder, or overuse syndrome (OS). It is more commonly seen in women 40 to 60 years of age than in men, and it rarely affects young people.

Causes of CTS

Over half of CTS sufferers have "idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome." Idiopathic means "cause unknown."

Where the cause is known, it is often an injury from repetitive tasks, as indicated above, or a fracture or fall on the hand. Poorly designed and/or vibrating hand tools may damage the pain of the hand and cause CTS.

Some disease conditions that may narrow the carpal tunnel are rheumatoid or osteo-arthritis, Paget's bone disease, multiple myeloma, acromegaly, gout, or ganglia (enlargement of the tissue in the back of the hand, much like a cyst). Surprisingly, it is often found in pregnant women, women who use birth control pills, or individuals who have underactive thyroid.

The Medical Approach

In the majority of cases, the medical doctor is unable to ascertain the cause of CTS. Often, the best that he/she can do is to try to relieve the pain by using a splint to immobilize the wrist, apply ice, and prescribe diuretics or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the symptoms persist, corticosteroids may be injected into the crease in the hand near the wrist. Such injections may provide relief, but the relapse rate is high and side effects can be quite severe if all of the above measures fail, then surgery may be resorted to. Recovery from such surgery may take from six months to ten years.

The limitation of standard medical care led the late Robert Mendelsohn, M.D. to the following conclusions:

Since the medical treatment for this condition is so often unsatisfactory, I have for years been recommending that my patients consult experts in muscle and joint therapy.

Alternative Approaches to CTS

Certain exercises, soft tissue therapy, physical therapy, and nutritional supplements such as vitamin B-6 have been shown to be effective for patients with CTS.

Chiropractic Approach

Chiropractic is not a treatment for CTS, but anyone who is suffering from the condition should see a chiropractor to ensure that his/her spinal column is free from spinal nerve stress or nerve impingement (pressure). This is especially important for CTS sufferers since authorities have demonstrated that there is a direct connection between arm and wrist pain and the nerves that emit from the neck. A spine free from nerve stress will be in a better position to heal itself from CTS (or any other condition).

The musicians and workers who suffer from CTS are not only using their wrist in their tasks - the neck is also involved. Thus, it may be that the altered spinal movements created by strain on the neck aggravate the condition.

Research Studies

One controlled clinic study found that after chiropractic care:

Improvements were demonstrated in all strength and range of motion (ROM) measures at the conclusion of the treatment program. In half of these measures, the improvements were statistically significant.

Another study led the authors to conclude:

Cervical chiropractic adjustment appears to bring partial or complete relief of symptoms.

According to one researcher, the health of the spine affects more than the wrist; other joint conditions may develop.

The authors observation strongly suggests that faulty innervation caused by spinal joint lesions is one of the main factors in the production of wrist swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, painful heels, and flat feet.

Pisiform Hamate Syndrome

Another condition the wrist is subject to is similar to CTS and is known as Pisiform Hamate syndrome after the names of the two wrist bones (pisiform and hamate) involved in this condition.

In this condition there is nerve involvement in the wrist area similar to carpal tunnel. A tunnel is present but a nerve, this time the ulnar (median with carpal tunnel) is affected by nerve pressure.

Conclusion

Although chiropractic is not a treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, anyone suffering with this condition should see a chiropractor to be sure of a spine that is free of spinal nerve stress or nerve pressure.


	Home Your grip may not feel as firm as usual, and you may feel tingling and numbness in your fingers and wrist - and possibly pain in your hands and wrist so intense that it awakens you at night. There may be similar symptoms in the upper arm, elbow, shoulder, or neck. The pain in the hands and wrist may increase when the wrist is flexed and decrease when it is extended. Sometimes shaking the hands affords relief - sometimes not. These are some of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome or CTS. Where is the carpal tunnel? You won't find the carpal tunnel on any map - this tunnel is in your wrist. The wrist (carpal) bones form a tunnel-like structure - the carpal tunnel - through which pass nine tendons and one nerve - the median nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome (also known as occupational neuritis, partial thenar atrophy, and median neuritis) occurs when the median nerve is pinched or pressured. CTS is a common condition. According to some authorities, the syndrome may affect one out of ten Americans who work with their hands. In fact, the incidence of carpal tunnel disability has become a significant, costly problem to industry. Carpal tunnel syndrome often occurs in people who do repetitive tasks - housewives, secretaries, meat cutters, assembly line workers, carpenters, musicians. In these instances, it is referred to as a repetitive trauma disorder, or overuse syndrome (OS). It is more commonly seen in women 40 to 60 years of age than in men, and it rarely affects young people. Causes of CTS Over half of CTS sufferers have "idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome." Idiopathic means "cause unknown." Where the cause is known, it is often an injury from repetitive tasks, as indicated above, or a fracture or fall on the hand. Poorly designed and/or vibrating hand tools may damage the pain of the hand and cause CTS. Some disease conditions that may narrow the carpal tunnel are rheumatoid or osteo-arthritis, Paget's bone disease, multiple myeloma, acromegaly, gout, or ganglia (enlargement of the tissue in the back of the hand, much like a cyst). Surprisingly, it is often found in pregnant women, women who use birth control pills, or individuals who have underactive thyroid. The Medical Approach In the majority of cases, the medical doctor is unable to ascertain the cause of CTS. Often, the best that he/she can do is to try to relieve the pain by using a splint to immobilize the wrist, apply ice, and prescribe diuretics or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the symptoms persist, corticosteroids may be injected into the crease in the hand near the wrist. Such injections may provide relief, but the relapse rate is high and side effects can be quite severe if all of the above measures fail, then surgery may be resorted to. Recovery from such surgery may take from six months to ten years. The limitation of standard medical care led the late Robert Mendelsohn, M.D. to the following conclusions: Since the medical treatment for this condition is so often unsatisfactory, I have for years been recommending that my patients consult experts in muscle and joint therapy. Alternative Approaches to CTS Certain exercises, soft tissue therapy, physical therapy, and nutritional supplements such as vitamin B-6 have been shown to be effective for patients with CTS. Chiropractic Approach Chiropractic is not a treatment for CTS, but anyone who is suffering from the condition should see a chiropractor to ensure that his/her spinal column is free from spinal nerve stress or nerve impingement (pressure). This is especially important for CTS sufferers since authorities have demonstrated that there is a direct connection between arm and wrist pain and the nerves that emit from the neck. A spine free from nerve stress will be in a better position to heal itself from CTS (or any other condition). The musicians and workers who suffer from CTS are not only using their wrist in their tasks - the neck is also involved. Thus, it may be that the altered spinal movements created by strain on the neck aggravate the condition. Research Studies One controlled clinic study found that after chiropractic care: Improvements were demonstrated in all strength and range of motion (ROM) measures at the conclusion of the treatment program. In half of these measures, the improvements were statistically significant. Another study led the authors to conclude: Cervical chiropractic adjustment appears to bring partial or complete relief of symptoms. According to one researcher, the health of the spine affects more than the wrist; other joint conditions may develop. The authors observation strongly suggests that faulty innervation caused by spinal joint lesions is one of the main factors in the production of wrist swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, painful heels, and flat feet. Pisiform Hamate Syndrome Another condition the wrist is subject to is similar to CTS and is known as Pisiform Hamate syndrome after the names of the two wrist bones (pisiform and hamate) involved in this condition. In this condition there is nerve involvement in the wrist area similar to carpal tunnel. A tunnel is present but a nerve, this time the ulnar (median with carpal tunnel) is affected by nerve pressure. Conclusion Although chiropractic is not a treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, anyone suffering with this condition should see a chiropractor to be sure of a spine that is free of spinal nerve stress or nerve pressure.