We all type. On our phones. On our computers. All day, every day.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, more than eight million people are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome each year. This is the condition where an external force such as swelling pushes and compresses a certain nerve in your wrist (called the median nerve), thus potentially resulting in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. You may have a pre-existing medical issue that caused the Carpal Tunnel, or it may have happened seemingly out of the blue. Traditionally, the only options for treating this condition were medications or invasive, expensive operations. But that is no longer the case. The gentler, non-invasive techniques used by chiropractors have proven to be effective in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
This condition is typically characterized by feelings of burning and tingling in the palm of the hand that shoots to the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. Some people have also reported they can feel swelling in their hands even when there is no actual swelling occurring. Picking up little objects, on the other hand, can be problematic. Patients frequently complain of weakness and poor function in their hands; they may be unable to use their hands at all or only partially, which makes it difficult for them to perform specific tasks such as writing or manipulating small objects. In severe situations, injury to the median nerve can result in irreversible loss of hand movement if left untreated for an extended period of time.
As for what potentially causes Carpal Tunnel, as mentioned earlier – repeated motions with your hands and fingers, such as typing all day at work, are two of the most typical causes. Though the issue seems to appear out of nowhere sometimes, metabolic abnormalities such as pituitary gland difficulties, as well as pregnancy, could all be contributing factors. If you’re overweight, the extra weight may put more strain on those sensitive bones over time. If your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has no obvious cause, it most likely originates in an inflamed nerve in your spine.
Those who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have had to put up with insufficient treatment options for a long period of time. Surgery and prescription medications, for example, provide only temporary or expensive relief, and even then, they can fail totally or leave you in a worse state than you were before you attempted them. No one wants their quality of life to be constrained by this terrible ailment, but some people who suffer with Carpal Tunnel have been forced to quit their jobs and need assistance with daily tasks.
For people who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, there is a non-surgical option available: chiropractic treatment! Chiropractors employ moderate, manual treatments such as spinal adjustments, in conjunction with exercises that are tailored to the needs of each patient. This treatment has been demonstrated to be successful in alleviating nerve interference while causing no long-term side effects. If you are experiencing symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, please do not hesitate to contact our staff at NuSpine Chiropractic for assistance.
