Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Help With Carpal Tunnel

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is associated with work-related activities, recreational activities, and other physical conditions. It is becoming increasingly common, and is considered a major reason for time off work and lost productivity. Many companies now claim Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as one of their most disabling and costly medical problems. But what is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, how can it be treated, and how can it be prevented?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the name given to symptoms that occur when the nerves and tendons running through the carpal tunnel of the wrist become irritated and swollen. The carpal tunnel itself is a narrow passage in the wrist Hand X-rays comprised of bones and ligaments through which nerves and tendons pass into the hand. When the wrist is overused, used improperly, or injured, swelling of the tissues in the carpal tunnel compress the nerves and tendons. This causes pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, or other symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Pain is usually worse at night, and often awakens the sufferer from sleep. The pain can radiate up the arm and to the back of the shoulder. Swelling of the hand is common, and in severe cases, hand weakness may cause difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as fastening a button, or even cause the sufferer to drop objects.

There are many possible causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Work-related activities, such as keyboard data entry, prolonged grasping of tool handles or steering wheels, use of vibrating tools, or repetitive assembly line tasks, where the same hand/wrist motions are used for long periods of time, are prime factors for causing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Recreational activities that involve repetitive motions or place constant pressure on the hand or wrist, such as weight lifting, cycling, and rowing, can also lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Repetitive Tasks

Because similar symptoms can indicate other, more serious conditions, such as diabetes, fractures, or hypothyroidism, it is important to consult a physician for an examination and proper diagnosis. Doctors of Chiropractic, with their training and experience in dealing with problems associated with nerve interferences, are an excellent choice for evaluating your symptoms and determining if you may suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Your Chiropractic treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will begin with a detailed health history, including your common work and recreational activities. Range-of-Motion, strength, neurological, and other diagnostic tests may be performed to determine a diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, its degree of severity, and if there are any underlying conditions to blame.

Doctors of Chiropractic do not prescribe medications that merely mask the pain instead of addressing its causes. Doctors of Chiropractic do not rely on surgeries, which are very expensive and too often fail to adequately correct the problem. Instead, Doctors of Chiropractic use completely natural and non-invasive health procedures to help restore your body to good health. More and more, Chiropractic is being used successfully for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to relieve the symptoms and pain, to correct the underlying problems, and to strengthen the hand and wrist in order to prevent its reoccurrence.