Is There a Light at the End of the Carpel Tunnel?

Carpal tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very common condition. It often arises from repetitive use of the hands and wrists. It also commonly crops up during pregnancy. Symptoms include:

•  numbness
•  tingling
• weakness or 
• pain in the hand, specifically in the pointer and middle fingers.

Whats the Treatment?

A 6 week course of care with a chiropractor or physiotherapist to address the issue is usually the recommended medical treatment. Surgery is recommended if symptoms are not successfully relieved after this course of care. This surgery involves releasing the little fascial band that makes up the “tunnel” part of the carpal tunnel so that there is less pressure on the nerves at this area.

The carpal tunnel is not the only place nerve entrapment can occur in the arm. And for this reason, it is important to first go through the conservative care with a chiropractor or physiotherapist. In fact, some patients go through the surgery and find that they get only modest pain relief. The reason for this? The pain is actually coming from higher up in the arm.

Carpal Tunnel or Pronator Teres Syndrome?

In many cases, that median nerve is entrapped in the pronator teres muscle of the arm. The symptoms are very similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, but this is called pronator teres syndrome. Entrapment here is not addressed during a carpal tunnel surgery and will not be relieved.

Questions? Email our chiropractors Dr. Courteney Werner or Dr. Andrew Bell at admin@triadahealthottawa.com or book online here