Carpal Tunnel Bethesda

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common and most expensive repetitive stress injury experienced by people in the United States. According to the American Chiropractic Association, a single carpel tunnel patient can expect to lose about $30,000 in medical bills and lost work time.

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What Causes Carpal Tunnel?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by the compression of the median nerve as it passes through the ‘carpal tunnel’, a small passageway within the wrist. This is most often seen as a result of constant repetitive movement, such as seen on assembly lines, in sewing positions, and even secretarial positions.

Common symptoms include pain in the hand and wrist which can occasionally spread up to the elbow, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected hand. Symptoms will most often start in the dominant hand, but some people will begin to experience symptoms in both hands as time goes on.

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What help can a chiropractor offer?

Chiropractic treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome are relatively new. Most people choose to rely on steroid injections, pain medication, and eventually surgery. A visit to the chiropractor can help to alleviate most or all of the symptoms of carpal tunnel.

The most common chiropractic treatment for CTS simply includes chiropractic alignment of the upper spine, wrist and arm. Improper spinal alignment can contribute negatively to CTS symptoms. Specific adjustments to the arm, wrist, and spine can help to remove some of the discomfort.

Ultrasound therapy is also a commonly used technique to relieve the pain and discomfort of CTS. These high and low frequency sound waves are used to basically provide a deep tissue massage, which will help to relax muscles, relive pain, and alleviate any inflammation in the area.

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What about physical therapy?

Physical therapy treatment can be an extremely versatile tool to alleviate the pain and symptoms associated with CTS. 

Your physical therapist may want you to begin employing gliding exercises. These consist of moving your fingers in a specific pattern designed to help your tendons and nerves ‘glide’ more smoothly through the carpal tunnel.

The “Graston Technique” is another name for a type of manual therapy that physical therapists are able to employ in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. This technique allows the therapist to manipulate the wrist and hand to look for any scar tissue or other build up that might be blocking or impeding the carpal tunnel and the median nerve.

Your physical therapist may also recommend the use of splints or traction devices to treat the symptoms of CTS. These are designed to immobilize the wrist in a neutral position. This supposedly reduces the pressure on the median nerve, which should alleviate any symptoms.

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Conclusions

Chiropractic and physical therapy treatment should be among your first choices if you are suffering though the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. These techniques have been proven to alleviate pain and symptoms without the need for invasive and possibly ineffective surgeries.

Schedule an appointment with your local chiropractor today and find out what he or she can do for you!