Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been known by many as the feeling of ants crawling on their arms and hands.

This is because the nerve called the median nerve gets impinged somewhere along its path. The median nerve is made up from the nerves in the neck (C5 – T1), and it travels through the arm to the hands.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Numbness and tingling
Pain in the forearm
Pain in hand
Weakness in grip strength
Thumb, index, and middle finger sensations (occasionally ring finger)

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Our Upland chiropractic office has found that common reasons for CTS might include repetitive tasks such as typing, sewing, using tools regularly, and working with your hands.

We have also noticed that poor postural habits can contribute to CTS. Professions or activities that lead to prolonged strain on the neck have been shown to irritate the nerves that travel down the arms and hands. Professional like clerical work, hair stylist, electricians, painters, and many more might be affected.

What is the cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

We have found that there are three areas of concern regarding CTS.

Cervical Spine (Neck)

When misalignments (or Subluxations) occur, it can lead to irritation and damage to the nerves. This can be due to a major trauma, but it is very commonly seen by a series of micro traumas. CTS can be prolonged if the neck is not checked early on when experiencing symptoms. It is the most overlooked area checked by many providers. However, it can be one of the biggest factors in a faster recovery.

Pronator Teres Muscle

In the forearm, a muscle called the pronator teres attaches from the ulna to the radius bone. It is responsible for the twisting motion of the hand (think turning a screwdriver). In some professions, this muscle can over develop or hypertrophy. This leads to less space for the median nerve to travel underneath. Pressure gets placed onto the nerve and leads to CTS like symptoms. Although this is not technically called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it can mimic the same symptoms. This leads to a misdiagnosis, and it is often addressed after surgery of the wrist. This is often called a “Double Crush Phenomenon.” Meaning that the nerve can be affected in two areas at the same time.

Carpal Tunnel (Wrist)

In your wrist, you have many bones called the carpal bones. These help with movement of the wrist. The Carpal Transverse Ligament runs over the carpal bones and creates a tunnel for the tendons of the forearm muscle and the median nerve. When the wrist joint becomes irritated, the nerve can become affected. This is due to repetitive movements or accumulated trauma.

Identifying The Cause Helps To Understand The Treatment

To begin working on fixing the problem, we need to know what is causing the issue. It can often be multiple factors. It is important to have a thorough assessment to identify the problem. This is why Ahava Chiropractic has a very specific approach.

Once we identify the problem, we work on correcting and fixing it. This is through specific chiropractic adjustments. In addition to working on the spine, education on activities, stretches, and exercises may be necessary in getting more long term correction.

“We can not solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein