Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the median nerve in your wrist becomes compressed, causing pain and numbness in the hand and fingers. CTS can make it difficult to perform everyday activities such as typing, writing, and even eating. It is not very common for CTS to be present on both sides of the hand at the same time.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Compression of the median nerve in the wrist causes CTS. This compression can be a consequency of many factors including obesity, arthritis, diabetes, even pregnancy. Most frequently though, repetitive motions such as typing or assembly line work are what cause it in the majority of patients. People who work with their hands are more likely to develop CTS than people who don’t do manual labor. It’s also one of the most common injuries for golf players.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel

The most common symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome is pain or numbness and tingling in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger. Other symptoms include tingling sensations in the fingers or hand; swelling in your palm; difficulty gripping objects; weakness in your hands; and difficulty making a fist or straightening your fingers. If left untreated, CTS can lead to permanent nerve damage and loss of sensation in your hands or fingers.

Preventing CTS

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome from occurring or worsening if you already suffer from it.

• Taking regular breaks from typing and other activities that require repetitive movements
• Using ergonomic tools such as keyboards with adjustable heights
• Wearing splints on your wrists while sleeping
• Exercising regularly to strengthen your muscles
• Stretching before engaging in any activities that require repetitive movements
• Avoiding activities involving extreme vibrations (such as power tools)
• Limiting fluid intake before bedtime to reduce swelling in the wrists

For the fastest and more long lasting results, you might want to consider using chiropractic care and massage therapy.

How To Treat CTS

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that affects millions of people worldwide each year. While a small number of cases require surgery, lifestyle changes and chiropractic care are can help prevent and treat the majority.

A chiropractor is able to correctly diagnose your condition and differentiate it from other similar conditions, like pronator teres syndrome. At PEAKiropractic, we’re focus on providing you with the best preventative and non-invasive treatment to a variety of conditions.