Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Its Solutions

Whether you're an athlete, painter, musician, manual worker or clerical employee, you may be vulnerable to a painful, debilitating problem known as carpal tunnel syndrome. This compression of a major nerve that runs through the wrist can produce a variety of unpleasant symptoms, possibly keeping you from doing your job and earning a living. If you're already dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome and are looking for things you can do to remedy it, here are some non-surgical answers from your friends at Advanced Physical Medicine of Yorkville.

Symptoms and Causes

When trying to relieve a painful problem, it's helpful to know what that problem involves and what might be causing it. In this case, it involves the median nerve, the nerve that provides sensory and motor information to the thumb and the first three fingers of the hand. The narrow space around this nerve is known as the carpal tunnel. When the soft tissues that define this tunnel become inflamed and swollen, they can pinch the median nerve. This impingement affects the nerve's ability to relay signals, causing symptoms such as burning, tingling, or pain in the fingers, hand, wrist and/or forearm. It can also cause muscle weakness and loss of coordination in the hand.

While carpal tunnel syndrome can stem from an acute injury such as a sprain, it's also a notorious form of repetitive motion injury. It often strikes athletes who swing a racket or club, artists or laborers who constantly grip tools and instruments, and office workers who spend long hours at the keyboard and mouse. Even sleeping with a bent wrist can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. People who are born with narrow carpal tunnels are especially vulnerable.

Non-Surgical Treatment and Home Care Options

While surgery can be an effective form of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, it involves permanent changes to your wrist anatomy and (for some patients) up to a year for full, pain-free recovery. Our clinic can evaluate your condition and recommend simple, non-invasive remedies to help your wrist feel and function better. These may include:

• Chiropractic adjustments to create more space within the carpal tunnel
• Massage therapy and physiotherapy to reduce inflammation and relieve soft tissue pain
• Rehabilitative exercises to restore weakened hand muscles
• Bracing or splinting to prevent nighttime wrist bending and daytime wrist stress
• Changes to your workplace ergonomics or sports technique to minimize repetitive strain

An evaluation might even reveal that the nerve pain in your wrist is referred pain caused by an issue in your cervical spine. In these cases, cervical spinal adjustments may relieve your symptoms.

Ready to Experience a Life Free of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Are you ready to rid yourself of carpal tunnel syndrome the safe, non-surgical way? Call 630-553-2111 to set an appointment at Advanced Physical Medicine of Yorkville. We can put your wrist back on the road to wellness!