Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common nerve-related conditions. It affects about 1 in 10 people at some point in their lives, and has become more prevalent over time. The exact cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is unknown, but it often seems to be related to repetitive motion or injury to the wrist that results in pressure on the median nerve as it passes through a narrow tunnel (the carpal tunnel) in your wrist.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common ailment that can be debilitating. Roughly three percent of Americans suffer from this condition. However, with proper treatment it can be prevented and even managed so that it does not worsen. Some may suggest surgical procedures or steroid injections to help with these symptoms but there are other treatments as well which range from acupuncture, physical therapy, and chiropractic practice for carpal tunnel release.

The conservative treatment approach to carpal tunnel syndrome is effective in minimizing symptoms and preventing complications, but you may still face risks of suffering from such things as numbness, tingling, or weakness. Chiropractic care treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome has been shown to have great success rates with minimal risk of side effects.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disease that happens when the tissues in your wrist compress the nerve or median nerve in your hand. It starts with the spinal bones in your cervical spine forming around your neck. Your median nerve will then move in the narrow passageway in your carpal tunnel or wrist. 

You might experience numbness, pain, and tingling in your hand and arm. You can also share the worst kind of pain around the thumb side of your hand and travel through your forearm to your shoulders. You might experience difficulty in doing your tasks and grasping objects. 

A diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is not difficult to make, but it can be hard to diagnose. If you have a tingling sensation in your fingers and hands that persists for more than a few minutes after an episode of activity or if you experience numbness, then these are both symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The severity and type of symptoms will vary from person to person- some people may just experience mild discomfort while others might need surgery in order to regain use of their hand. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has varying degrees of severity depending on the individual. It is one condition that starts with minor tingling in the fingers which slowly progresses into severe pain over time if left untreated.

If you do not take carpal tunnel syndrome, it can cause permanent and severe damage to your median nerve, leading to chronic symptoms. To alleviate the problem, chiropractic treatment could help you treat pressure in your nerves and the pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. 

What are Available Chiropractic Care Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome usually occurs from repetitive motions, such as typing or playing an instrument. If you have this condition it can be treated with exercises for stretching your arms and fingers, splints to keep your wrists straight when sleeping, anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections to decrease swelling around the nerve area. In severe cases, surgery is warranted.

Your chiropractor goes directly to the root cause of your pain. They will determine if your cervical spine is the one causing you the syndrome. In this process, chiropractic care will focus on minimizing the pressure in your nerve. The treatment includes gentle manipulation of your elbow and wrist.

What are the exercise suited for carpal tunnel syndrome

Exercise can be a great way to reduce the pain from carpal tunnel syndrome. While it might seem like a chore, it doesn’t have to be! With all of the new technologies emerging that make exercise easier than ever before, now is an excellent time to get started on your fitness goals. Especially if you are experiencing any body problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, exercise will help relieve minor to major issues--and it increases productivity too!

Exercise is one of the best ways for people who experience chronic pain in their body from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It helps reduce symptoms and allows them to stay productive during work hours without feeling as much discomfort throughout the day.

Here are the exercises that can help you minimize the pain and improve your motion and function. 

Wrist Extensor stretch. This is a common warm up before exercising. It can be easily done in a short time and helps relieve stress on the wrist. 

Hold out your arm with palms facing downwards. Bend the hand upwards at the wrist. It’s like making a “stop” sign with your hand. Grab your fingers with your other hand and stretch them back and towards the body. Hold the stretch for a prescribed time. Repeat with the other hand.

This exercise can be done first thing in the morning with your stretching exercises, or at your desk when you stand to stretch or at any time of the day.

Wrist Flexor Stretch. This exercise looks and feels like the reverse of the wrist extensor stretch. Starting with the hand stretched in front and palms facing upwards. Bend your wrist, pointing your hand to the floor. Grab the fingers with the other hand, and stretch them backwards at the wrist. You should feel a mild to moderate stretching in your forearm. Hold the stretch for a prescribed time, typically 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat with the other hand. Repeat two to four times.

Median Nerve Glides. The median nerve glide relieves neural tension and reduces neural symptoms of the hands, wrist and forearm. The median nerve runs from the neck to the first two fingers and the thumb, along the insides and under the arm. The easiest median nerve glide exercise aims to slide the median nerve along this path, without adding tesion. Extend your arm to shoulder height, and bend upwards at the elbow by 90 degrees. The wrist is extended or bent parallel to the arm. This looks like a pose from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Straighten the arm, and while doing so, slowly bend the neck moving in the same direction as the wrist. Once straightened, bend the elbow back to the starting position, while at the same time, moving the neck back straight.