When hand pain affects you, there’s a good chance it’s due to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), one of the most common hand pain conditions. Also causing numbness, tingling and weakness, CTS results from compression or irritation of the median nerve, a major conduit between the brain and the hand.
Chiropractic treatment is often an effective way to treat CTS without drugs or surgery. The team at Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation in Lafayette Hill, the Main Line, East Falls, Elkins Park, Manayunk and Hatfield, Pennsylvania, offers a wide range of natural therapies, including the Active Release Technique, an ideal match for many CTS conditions.
The carpal tunnel is an anatomical structure at the base of the hand, on the palm side. As the name suggests, the shape of the structure is tunnel-like, formed by bones and ligaments.
It’s not a roomy space, so when injury or movement causes inflammation, this space can be crowded. The median nerve shares the tunnel space with nine flexor tendons, and it may bear the brunt of space restrictions within the carpal tunnel.
Pressure on the median nerve is the primary cause of CTS. Usually, symptoms start slowly, becoming more severe over time. You may notice numbness or tingling at first.
The frequency and severity increase without modifying activities or receiving treatment. Weakness of the thumb may develop and sensations expand to include pain.
The median nerve supplies sensory information for the thumb and first three fingers. The muscle responsible for the pinching motion of the thumb is also controlled through the median nerve.
The pinky finger isn’t involved in the case of CTS. The ulnar nerve supplies the fourth finger so if your hand pain involves the pinky, CTS may not be a factor.
As with many treatments offered by chiropractic, CTS therapy is drug-free, holistic, and noninvasive, aimed at helping your body handle repair and recovery by itself.
The median nerve forms in the armpit area, branching off from a larger structure called the brachial plexus. Because of this, chiropractic CTS care may start at the spine, then work through the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand.
Primary focal points of your CTS treatment may include:
We can combine additional therapies where needed to customize your treatment.
Contact Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation at the nearest of our six locations, online or by phone, to request your CTS consultation today.
