Many people suffer for years with CTS; many have surgery that sometimes is successful, but not always. Before we discuss Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, did you know your Chiropractor could treat you for CTS? Many people have been treated successfully and are pain free. Your chiropractor, without drugs or surgery, could be the answer to your suffering.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
CTS is a condition in which a major nerve (the Median Nerve), that controls the functions of the fingers and hand, becomes compressed inside a ‘tunnel’ in the wrist. This can cause various symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling, or a ‘funny feeling’ in the fingers, hand, or wrist.
What is The Carpal Tunnel?
Carpal comes from the Latin word ‘carpus’ meaning wrist. The carpal tunnel is a small passage inside the wrist. Small bones form the bottom and sides of the tunnel. A ligament arching over bones forms the roof or top of the tunnel; this ligament is called the transverse carpal ligament.
Passing through this tunnel are:
• Arteries and veins
• The tendons of the fingers flexor muscles which allow the fingers to bend.
• The Median Nerve, which conducts impulses, sent by the brain, down the arms and to the fingers.
The Median Nerve supplies most of the feeling in the hand, particularly to the thumb, index and middle fingers, the thumb half of the palm and outer side of the hand. It also controls the movement of many of the tendons that bend the fingers, allowing the hand to grasp objects as well as pinch.
Facts About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
• CTS strikes almost three times more in women than in men.
• Although it may be aggravated by work, CTS frequently occurs in people who are not working with their hands.
• Approximately 260,000 carpal tunnel surgeries are performed each year in the U.S. and 47% of these are considered work related.
• Almost half of CTS cases result in 31 days or more of work loss.
• CTS is not a byproduct of the computer age. Meat packers complained of CTS symptoms as long ago as the mid 1800s.
• CTS accounts for roughly 10% to 17% of repetitive strain injuries.
• If not properly treated, CTS can cause irreversible nerve damage and permanent disability of varying degrees.
What Are The Symptoms of CTS?
Symptoms of CTS tend to appear gradually. They include:
• Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the thumb and fingers, particularly the index and middle fingers, which are affected by the median nerve
• Pain in the hands or wrists
• Loss of dexterity or gripping strength
• Difficulty performing routine tasks with the hands such as holding a cup, vacuuming, washing, or even driving; some people have difficulty holding a newspaper or telephone
• Pain in the arm and shoulder
• Swelling of the hand, which often increases at night.
A telltale sign of CTS is when symptoms are severe enough to awaken the sufferer from sleep, with tingling or pain in the hand. Symptoms may worsen at night because of the way the hand is positioned during sleep. Some may find relief by vigorously shaking their hand while held high or low, by rubbing their hands together, or even by soaking the hand in warm water.
Before using drugs or having surgery, it makes good sense to treat CTS naturally.
