Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A Case Study

If you are having WRIST PAIN, HAND PAIN, NUMBNESS AND TINGLING IN THE HANDS/FINGERS chances are that your friends/coworkers and maybe even your doctor told you that you are suffering from CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.  Maybe you even googled your symptoms and, well, Google told you that's what you have!

And though you might in fact have some of the symptoms normally associated with CARPAL TUNNEL you might not have the syndrome itself.  In order to keep going, we have to get clear on what carpal tunnel syndrome.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME is pressure of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel, a small space at your wrist where nerves and tendons pass.  When pressure builds in the carpal tunnel, it affects the median nerve, causing a series of problems such as pain, numbness and tingling and weakness.  The problem is this, many times you have those symptoms without actually having carpal tunnel syndrome.  So, what can it be?

We call it a Median Nerve Entrapment Syndrome.  This means that the issue still median nerve related, but the carpal tunnel may not be the one to blame.  I got inspired to write about this today because a patient came in last week almost in tears due to the pain and weakness in her hands. As it turned out she had been working a lot using a computer and a mouse.  (Her right hand was worse than the left due to the repetitive mouse activity).  Upon examination she had weakness in her right hand (pinch test) and normal skin sensation.  Reflexes were normal.  But she also exhibited a forward head posture (please see blog on FHP) and severe muscle tightness in her neck (particularly scalenes). 

Her TREATMENTS have consisted of MRT (myofascial release technique) to her neck, shoulder, arm and forearm musculature along the median nerve route.  Chiropractic adjustments are performed to her cervical and thoracic spine and her wrist.  Therapeutic exercises and stretches were taught and the patient has been religious about doing them (which is a HUGE reason she is improving). 

The end result:  over 50% improvement in the first week of treating alone.  So far we've done 5 sessions and she is doing GREAT! (over 60% improvement in under 2 weeks).

There many places along the neck, shoulder, arm and forearm where the median nerve can be trapped.  Recognition of where the entrapment is can lead to a quick recovery for the patient.

In my patient's case, I believe that the problem had more to do with her neck and posture than with her wrist.  By combining treatments with changes to her posture and exercises that she could do at work she's been able to achieve great results in minimal time.

 

Dr. Eric - Your Santa Monica Chiropractor

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