Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chiropractic Care

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chiropractic Care

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is an increasingly common condition that causes pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the fingers and hands. Some patients may also experience pain that reaches to the elbow. CTS will also lead to a weakening grip and can affect finger coordination as well.

In CTS, pressure is exerted on the median nerve in the wrist. This nerve is responsible for feeling in the hands and fingers. This pressure can result from stress on the carpal tunnel, which causes it to decrease in size and thereby press on the nerve. Untreated, muscle damage can occur in the hand. People in a variety of professions can develop this condition. Even pregnancy has been known to cause this condition, as well as inherited conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Believed to be caused by repetitive hand movement, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can have a hefty price tag of tens of thousands of dollars in lifetime costs that stem from medical care and lost wages. While there are surgical options for treating CTS, surgery isn’t the best choice for everyone. It can be invasive and takes time to recover from. Proper treatment can help prevent surgery, and chiropractic care is one treatment option available. Because the median nerve is an extension of nerves that comes from the neck, chiropractic care is a possibility.

Chiropractors are also capable of adjusting the bones in the wrist and elbow. Adjustments may help relieve pressure and loosen tense muscles. Many chiropractors also use physical therapy, massage therapy, and recommend hot or cold treatment techniques in their practice. These practices can have an effect on pain and numbness that CTS patient’s experience. Chiropractic care is also minimally invasive, and can be a more accessible treatment option than surgery. Most health insurance plans will cover the costs of regular visits to a chiropractor.

In addition to chiropractic care, there are other forms of treatment that can be used to help alleviate the symptoms of CTS. Splints are a common form of treatment that will keep the wrist immobilized. How advanced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is in a patient will likely determine how long and how often a splint needs to be worn. Other treatments can include over-the-counter pain medication or corticosteroid injections. Patients should talk over all their treatment options with their doctor. The doctor should also perform other tests to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis, that may be causing CTS-like symptoms.

Chiropractic care may be able to help patients determine which therapies and treatments are best. They may also refer patients to other doctors, specialists, and occupational therapists. They can also recommend changes to make at work and in daily life to keep Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from getting worse.

For some patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, seeking chiropractic care for treatment and care may help to ease their symptoms and prevent more extreme measures such as corticosteroid injections and invasive and costly surgery. Chiropractic care can be a helpful technique to help patients keep this condition from impeding on their daily activities. To get out of pain today, call 801-747-2886 for a FREE Carpal Tunnel phone consultation about chiropractic care!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chiropractic Care.