Chiropractic Solutions for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) has been associated with poor work-related ergonomics and repetitive motion for years, but did you know that it can also be caused or exacerbated by other health or illness issues as well as injuries to the wrist and hand.  That’s right, CTS can be a problem even if you never type or text for long stretches of your day.  So how do you know if what you are experiencing is actually CTS?

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

CTS is defined by a pronounced pain, numbness, or weakness in your wrist from unrelenting pressure on the median nerve that runs along the arm through your wrist and hand.  Carpal tunnel problems are common in the U.S. with an estimated 3 million people seeking treatment per year.  Similar to tendinitis of the wrist that is defined by more general swelling and inflammation in the tendons and muscles, CTS is a compression disorder that, once diagnosed, can usually be fully resolved.

Common Causes for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 

Physiologically, the median nerve moves or glides through a passageway or sheath in your wrist to your hand and then to your fingers allowing you to grip and hold things.  When the sheath becomes inflamed or irritated, it swells thereby constricting movement and blood flow and causing the numbness and pain usually associated with CTS.

There are a variety of things that can cause this to happen including:

• Gender – CTS is more common in women than in men,
• Injuries such as a wrist fracture or dislocation,
• Repetitive hand motions using fine motor skill, such as typing, texting, using a mouse, or needlework,
• Diabetes or chronic illnesses that increase nerve damage,
• Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory conditions, and
• Obesity or pregnancy (though carpal tunnel usually resolves following birth).

What are the Symptoms of CTS?

Starting out insignificantly but growing over time, you may begin feeling a tingling or numbness from the thumb to the middle or ring fingers (never the little finger).  From there, you may feel pain or a sensation like an electric shock that runs the length of your arm to your fingertips.  Additionally, the symptoms may travel up your arm when gripping or using hand muscles to hold or grip something.  With the symptoms of CTS becoming worse at night, you might experience numbness when sleeping or a weakness in the hands or arms.

First, Try Home Treatment

Minimizing stress can help to reduce or alleviate the pain and numbness associated with CTS so try these at home or work:

• Review and improve ergonomic layout of workspaces
• Use good posture
• Relax your grip – type lightly
• Be sure your hands stay warm; cold temperatures make pain and stiffness more likely 
• Take short, frequent breaks to gently stretch hands and wrists and alternate between different tasks if possible
• Try NSAIDS and anti-inflammatory medication for pain relief
• Use wrist immobilizers to provide some relief

How Chiropractic Care May Bring Added Strength to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

If home treatment and solutions don’t resolve the problem, you may want to seek a chiropractic evaluation as an alternative to traditional medical treatments or surgery.  With CTS, the median nerve can be investigated for its entire length originating in the cervical spine down the arm to the fingers.  Less invasive than traditional surgery and a better alternative than drugs to manage pain, chiropractic care encourages a holistic approach that looks at causes and solutions in addition to pain relief, including proper body mechanics, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle.

Contact us at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness to learn more about easing the pain of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and prevention for the future.  With years of experience, our team is dedicated to your good health and driven by results!

A Complete Guide to Tennis Elbow Symptoms and Treatments

Are you having aches on the outside of your elbow? Does your pain get worse when holding objects or shaking hands? These are potential symptoms of tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, a condition that affects 1 to 3% of the population. Despite its name, this injury isn’t always related to playing tennis. In general, it’s due to overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons. Repetitive movements, such as typing, painting, and weightlifting, are often the culprits. Tennis elbow symptoms vary from mild to severe. At first, you may notice pain on the outside of your upper forearm. Over time, the pain may worsen and affect your grip. Luckily, tennis elbow responds well to conservative treatment. Surgery is only required in severe cases. Let’s take a closer look at its symptoms and treatment options so you can take the steps needed to regain your mobility.

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Lateral epicondylitis, also known as Tennis Elbow, is the most common overuse injury affecting the elbow. It’s caused by repetitive movements of the forearm muscles, which put stress on the tendons that connect your elbow to these muscles.

Playing sports or repeating certain arm movements may cause small tears near the bony lump on the outside of the elbow. In the long run, these small tears lead to wear-and-tear of the tendons. As a result, you may experience pain and inflammation.

Athletes and manual laborers are at greater risk of developing tennis elbow. Simple changes, like stretching before exercise or manual work and using power tools rather than hand tools, may help prevent this painful condition.

Early treatment is crucial for a successful recovery. If left unaddressed, this injury may worsen and lead to complete tendon rupture. Therefore, it’s important to recognize its symptoms and reach out to a chiropractor or physical therapist before it’s too late.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of lateral epicondylitis is elbow pain that worsens gradually. The pain is usually felt on the outside of your elbow and may travel down your forearm toward the wrist.

Golfer’s elbow, a similar injury, causes pain on the inside of the elbow.

Lateral epicondylitis may also cause pain when bending your elbow, extending your arm, gripping small objects, writing, or typing. Over time, your elbow may become painful to touch.

You may experience these symptoms in one or both arms. Pain may worsen when you straighten your wrist, raise your hand, open a door, or make a fist. These issues can affect your range of motion and interfere with your day-to-day activities.

Treatment

Generally, chiropractic care or physical therapy is the first line of treatment for acute tennis elbow. Braces, exercise therapy, and manual adjustment can make a world of difference. Corticosteroid injections are typically recommended in more severe cases and may not work for everyone.

Resting the affected muscles and tendons is essential. Applying ice to the outside of your elbow may provide temporary relief. If necessary, you may take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain and swelling.

Once the inflammation subsides, you can perform stretching and strengthening exercises, such as wrist turns and towel twists. A physical therapist can help with that. They may also recommend kinesiology tape (KT) to relieve the pain and prevent further injury.

Regain Your Flexibility and Range of Motion

Tennis elbow symptoms can affect your quality of life and keep you from doing the things you enjoy. You may have a difficult time playing sports, painting, writing, or even cooking. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Our team in Mill Creek, Washington can help you regain your flexibility and ease the pain. Depending on your needs, we may recommend chiropractic care, KT tape, tennis elbow exercises, and more.