The American College of Rheumatology estimates that somewhere between 4 and 11 million people in America suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. You may be one of those millions. Our team at Cape Coral Family Chiropractic in Cape Coral would like to look at what you need to know about carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Inside the palm of your hand lies the median nerve. It runs from your palm up to your elbow. When this nerve gets pressed by internal swelling, it causes the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The palm of your hand is also known as the carpal tunnel, which is how this syndrome got its name.
Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
There are many reasons why your median nerve is pressed upon. These reasons include poor work ergonomics, injuries, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders, pregnancy, and menopause. People who move their wrists in repetitive motions for hours a day, like typing or working on an assembly line, are also prone to carpal tunnel syndrome since these motions often overextend the wrist and cause swelling.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Although there are many different causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, the symptoms they produce are pretty consistent. The symptoms include:
- Wrist pain
- Weird tingling sensations that feel as if your fingers, hand, or arm have just woken up from sleep. Shaking the hand often helps, at first.
- Along with the tingling, you may get numbness in the fingers or hand that sometimes travels up the arm
- Inability to use your hand for brief periods, which become longer over time
Carpal tunnel syndrome is very disruptive to people’s lives. We tend to take our hands for granted until we can no longer use them. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can get so bad that they prevent you from sleeping or wake you up from sleep.
It Does Not Get Better Without Treatment
No one likes going to the doctor, but you should not put off seeing one if you start getting wrist pain or other symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. They always worsen over time. If you do not get treatment, you could lose the use of your hand due to permanent nerve damage.
Chiropractic Care
A chiropractor can help ease the pressure on your median nerve with spinal adjustments, massage, trigger point therapy, suggestions for better work ergonomics, and other treatments. Our chiropractors will never prescribe potentially addictive painkillers or recommend invasive procedures like surgery.
Get Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cape Coral, FL
There is no need to suffer from the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you live in the Cape Coral area, contact Cape Coral Family Chiropractic to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mayer or Dr. Kirdahy. Call our team today at (239) 574-8000 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.
