Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes, Symptoms, and Non-Surgical Treatment
Do you have a hard time grabbing a bottle or cup? Have you lost the strength to twist open a large jar? How about tingling, numbness or pain in your hand, wrist or fingers? If so, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury, named after the bones in the wrist that form a tunnel. Examples of repetitive stress include using a computer for long periods of time, prolonged texting, performing a job on an assembly line, and using hand tools.
Your median nerve travels from your forearm to your hand through this carpal tunnel. Tendons and blood vessels also pass through this opening. When tendons in the carpal tunnel become swollen and “pinch” your nerves, you feel pressure and painful symptoms. The bones that form the carpal tunnel can also “collapse,” which puts pressure on the nerve, causes inflammation, and other aggravating symptoms.
The median nerve is the major nerve controlling your thumb, index, and parts of the middle and ring finger. From the tip of your fingers, it travels through the bones in your wrist, past your elbow, up your arm, through your shoulder and neck, and finally to your spinal cord. Problems can develop in one or more of these areas.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome usually starts slowly with numbness or tingling to your thumb, index and middle fingers, but not your little finger, that comes and goes. This sensation often happens at times like when waking up from sleep, holding a phone, or typing on a keyboard. You may also feel discomfort in your wrist, hand, and up your arm. Many people try to shake their hands to relieve the symptoms. As the disorder progresses, numbness may become constant.
Weakness is another symptom many people get with carpal tunnel syndrome. When your nerve is pinched, your hand or thumb may become weak and you will find yourself easily dropping things.
It is important to recognize that not all wrist pain is carpal tunnel syndrome. It is very common to experience the same symptoms when there is a misalignment in your neck, where nerves that control our arms and hands originate. When these nerves are “pinched,” wrist and hand pain is common.
Dr. Winchell is highly trained at diagnosing the source of your symptoms, then correct the misalignments and reduce the swelling that is “pinching” your nerves and causing your aggravating symptoms.
