Wrist injury and excessive repetitive movements of the arms, wrists, and hands can cause carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CTS is a repetitive stress injury and a common problem among typists, hairdressers, mechanics, assembly-line workers, and mechanics. Generally, many people develop CTS regardless of the type of work they do and its incidence may be linked more with occupations than in gender.

Anatomy

CTS refers to the compression of the median nerve at the wrist in a structure called the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is the small space surrounded by ligaments and bones in the wrist through which runs the median nerve. The median nerve gives sensation to the thumb, index finger, long finger, and half of the ring finger. In other words, it relays sensation from the palm of the hand and fingers. So when the median nerve becomes pinched because of the swelling of the tendons and this leads to numbness and pain of the fingers and hand, and sometimes up to the forearm.

Symptoms

One of the first symptoms of CTS is gradual tingling, pain, and numbness. CTS patients report having feelings like the hand is asleep, especially in the early morning hours. Symptoms of CTS are usually sudden and severe which can spread up the arm to the shoulder. People who suffer from CTS report weird sensations like darting pins and needles starting from the wrists radiating into the arms and shoulders. As the condition progresses, the muscles of the thumb weaken that makes performing even easy movements can be a challenge, making it hard to grasp small objects.

Causes

It is important to know that the carpal tunnel cannot expand, but anything that causes abnormal pressure in the tunnel can produce CTS symptoms. Likewise, any increase in pressure within the carpal tunnel can reduce blood flow to the nerve which leads to nerve function loss. However, the way people do some tasks can increase can put them at risk for CTS such as:

repetitive and strenuous tasks
narrower carpal tunnels
health condition (e.g. diabetes, obesity, hypothyroidism)
rheumatoid arthritis
injury to the wrist

CTS and Chiropractic Care

Most mild to moderate CTS patients can be treated without surgery unless there is a significant nerve damage and the nerve conduction test to confirm CTS is a safe procedure that does not require any anesthesia. Traditionally, medical doctors recommend wearing a splint that keeps the wrist in a neutral position during sleep, administer anti-inflammatory drugs, or suggest steroid injection for temporary relief. Doctors of chiropractic, on the other hand, offer a noninvasive relief like manipulation of the wrist, arm, upper spine, ultrasound therapy, and wrist supports.

The main purpose of chiropractic treatment for CTS is to reduce and eliminate the cause of pressure in the carpal tunnel. Chiropractors may check your workstation as well as how you do your daily tasks. Knowing these will allow your chiropractor to offer suggestions about wrist positions, healthy body alignment, helpful exercises, as well as information on how to prevent future problems. Chiropractors might also give treatments such as:

modifying the work environment to prevent over use
Nutritional advice
Exercises specifically designed to minimise muscle strain and improve small muscle strength
Soft tissue treatments which release muscle tension and remove adhesions which may be impinging on the nerves

CTS will improve after a few months even without any treatment, but patients who wait too long to seek health advice may have difficulty coping with the persistent pain and numbness. Nonsurgical treatment or chiropractic care can promise improvement in four to six weeks. Chiropractors will give you exercises to help stabilize the muscles and joints in the hand, wrist, and harm, as well as improve fine motor control of your hands. There are a lot of things to expect after a CTS treatment, but it is best to compare your options especially with nonsurgical treatment like that of chiropractic care.