Carpal tunnel syndrome, most commonly referred to just as “carpal tunnel” is an unfortunately common and painful condition that impacts the wrist. When this condition occurs, nerves in the wrist can become compressed and cause significant pain, more specifically it causes pressure on the median nerve in the area.
The condition gets it name from the carpal tunnel passageway in the wrist area. This narrow passageway is surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side of the hand. If not treated properly, it can lead to permanent nerve and muscle damage.
While some may believe that surgery is the only solution for carpal tunnel, there is another solution that can help treat the root cause of carpal tunnel and keep its symptoms at bay—chiropractic care.
Here at our Howard County chiropractic office, we see countless individuals struggling with wrist pain and can help you determine if you are truly dealing with carpal tunnel, or another similar condition. Most importantly, we will help you get on a treatment plan that will help you find relief.
But How Do You Know if You Have Carpal Tunnel?
There are many people who struggle with pain or cramping in their wrist and automatically assume that they have carpal tunnel syndrome. However, this condition isn’t quite as prevalent as many people assume, which is why the first thing your chiropractor will do is perform an examination to see if you truly have carpal tunnel syndrome, or some other type of injury or inflammation.
Typically, carpal tunnel occurs when the median nerve is compressed from swelling or misalignments in the wrist. This can sometimes lead to a burning pain, tingling or swelling from the third finger to the thumb. Carpal tunnel syndrome typically begins in a person’s dominant hand, but it can occur in both hands.
Swelling or pain in these two fingers is one of the easiest ways to assert that a patient is dealing with carpal tunnel instead of some other type of wrist or hand injury. Some individuals who have been dealing with carpal tunnel for an extended period of time will report weakness throughout the impacted hand.
When you visit your chiropractor for carpal tunnel diagnosis, make sure to inform your doctor of any and all symptoms you are experiencing.
Will a Chiropractor Be Able to Tell What Caused Carpal Tunnel?
Typically, it can be quite difficult to determine what caused carpal tunnel syndrome, unless the patient is able to recall an injury to the wrist area that caused the symptoms to develop shortly after.
There are also certain occupations that have been shown to contribute to the development of this condition. This includes jobs that involve the long-term use of vibrating instruments or tools.
Other individuals who spend long periods of time with the repetitious use of their hands or wrists can also be at risk for developing carpal tunnel. This condition is far more common in women than in men.
How Can Our Howard County Chiropractic Office Help With Carpal Tunnel?
The most effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome depends entirely on the underlying cause. When you visit our Laurel, MD office, we will complete a fully history and examination in order to get to the root cause of your symptoms and discomfort. We will formulate an individualized treatment plan that best suits you and your individual needs.
His includes gentle joint manipulation to restore motion to any restricted joints in your hands. We can also help with therapeutic modalities to decrease your pain and limit the overall inflammation in your wrist. In addition to prescribing a treatment plan and giving you at-home treatments such as icing and stretching—our doctors will help you learn how to function better and without pain even with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Here at our Laurel, Maryland office, we know that carpal tunnel syndrome can drastically impact your overall quality of life and we want to help you get back to living your life pain free. If you have questions about carpal tunnel, or any other type of wrist pain, contact the experts here at McAuliffe Chiropractic Office. You can call and schedule an appointment with us at 301-776-0755 or book an appointment online here.
