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Carpal Tunnel
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow, tunnel-like structure located at the base of the wrists. The bottom and sides of this tunnel are formed by wrist (carpal) bones. The top of the tunnel is covered by a strong band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament.The median nerve along with 9 other tendons travels from the forearm into the hand through this tunnel in the wrist. The median nerve controls feeling in the palm side of the thumb, index finger, and long fingers. The nerve also controls the muscles around the base of the thumb. The tendons that bend the fingers and thumb also travel through the carpal tunnel. These tendons are called flexor tendons.
Let our experienced Crystal Lake chiropractors relieve you of your carpal tunnel symptoms by contacting us today.
So how do you know if you might have carpal tunnel syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome often causes the hand, especially the thumb and the index finger, to feel numb or tingly. Some people experience shooting pain into the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also cause weakness in the hand which makes it difficult to hold onto things. These symptoms are often worse at night because of the way we sleep.
Pressure on the median nerve causes carpal tunnel syndrome. This pressure can come from swelling or anything that makes the carpal tunnel smaller. Many things can cause this swelling, including:
- Illnesses such as hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.
- Making the same hand movements over and over, especially if the wrist is bent down (your hands lower than your wrists), or making the same wrist movements over and over.
- Pregnancy.
At Strelcheck chiropractic clinic our approach to your carpal tunnel symptoms begins by taking a comprehensive exam and palpation of the affected areas, a posture evaluation and a discussion about medical and family history, lifestyle habits and daily routines. At that point, we may take X-rays or order further diagnostic tests. Collectively, this data gives us a greater understanding of the severity of the disorder. From there, an individually tailored chiropractic treatment plan is set in motion with one goal in mind: to eliminate the physical stress put on the wrist. By doing so, we eliminate the pain and symptoms and gain range of motion by returning the wrist bones into its normal position.
