Carpal tunnel syndrome is defined as a condition involving numbness, tingling, weakness, pain and/or muscle wasting of the hand along the distribution of the median nerve. This relates to the thenar or thumb-side of the hand.
Although surgery is often the choice of treatment, it is the most invasive form of treatment and is not the only treatment available. To better understand this, one needs to better understand the different causes of carpal tunnel syndrome.
The carpal tunnel is formed by an arch of four bones, the carpal bones, which form the back of the wrist. The front of the wrist is formed by the flexor retinaculum, a strong ligament which spans the arch. The tunnel thus forms between them.
There are then a few structures that travel through the carpal tunnel into the hand. These include some of the flexor tendons for the wrist and the median nerve. With carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve undergoes too much pressure being exerted on it, known as compression, leading to a decrease in electrical conductivity in the nerve.
The median nerve supplies the palm side of the hand including the thumb and the first three and a half fingers. It also supplies the tips and the backs of the same fingers. When the nerve gets compressed, it is only in this area that symptoms are felt. So, if you are getting symptoms in your little finger, for example, then that is NOT caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
It is ultimately the compression of the median nerve that leads to carpal tunnel syndrome. Medical testing for carpal tunnel syndrome usually entails the use of an electromyelogram (EMG).
The EMG is done by sending a small electrical impluse from the forearm to the hand. If the current is decreased when it is picked up at the hand by the EMG probe, then the diagnosis is probably Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
The treatment most commonly recommended is the surgical cutting of the flexor retinaculum so as to provide more room for the nerve in the tunnel. This often works very well - but it is by no means the only solution.
There are two main reasons for carpal tunnel syndrome to present itself. The first is a deterioration of the joints between the carpal bones leading to a collapse of the carpal tunnel. The second reason is a swelling of the tendons which pass through the carpal tunnel taking up too much space resulting in compression of the median nerve.
Unfortunately, an EMG cannot tell you which of these two causes is the problem. And that, in turn, can result in unnecessary surgery.
If the problem is arising from tendonitis, I believe it is much better to treat the tendonitis. The way tendonitis occurs is from having too much strain or tension placed on the tendon for too long of a time.
Too much repetitive use of the muscles in the forearm cause them to tighten up. This then makes the tendons tight too, and that can cause them to become inflamed and swollen - a common cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Treatment for tendonitis can include stretching, pysiotherapy, ergonomics (eg typing posture), chiropractic manipulation, nutritional support etc. These are all a lot less invasive and have fewer side effects than surgery.
This does not mean that surgery is not a viable option. My preferred method, of course, is to begin with the least invasive form of therapy. If these options do not bring relief of symptoms, then surgery can be looked at. - 15343
Although surgery is often the choice of treatment, it is the most invasive form of treatment and is not the only treatment available. To better understand this, one needs to better understand the different causes of carpal tunnel syndrome.
The carpal tunnel is formed by an arch of four bones, the carpal bones, which form the back of the wrist. The front of the wrist is formed by the flexor retinaculum, a strong ligament which spans the arch. The tunnel thus forms between them.
There are then a few structures that travel through the carpal tunnel into the hand. These include some of the flexor tendons for the wrist and the median nerve. With carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve undergoes too much pressure being exerted on it, known as compression, leading to a decrease in electrical conductivity in the nerve.
The median nerve supplies the palm side of the hand including the thumb and the first three and a half fingers. It also supplies the tips and the backs of the same fingers. When the nerve gets compressed, it is only in this area that symptoms are felt. So, if you are getting symptoms in your little finger, for example, then that is NOT caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
It is ultimately the compression of the median nerve that leads to carpal tunnel syndrome. Medical testing for carpal tunnel syndrome usually entails the use of an electromyelogram (EMG).
The EMG is done by sending a small electrical impluse from the forearm to the hand. If the current is decreased when it is picked up at the hand by the EMG probe, then the diagnosis is probably Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
The treatment most commonly recommended is the surgical cutting of the flexor retinaculum so as to provide more room for the nerve in the tunnel. This often works very well - but it is by no means the only solution.
There are two main reasons for carpal tunnel syndrome to present itself. The first is a deterioration of the joints between the carpal bones leading to a collapse of the carpal tunnel. The second reason is a swelling of the tendons which pass through the carpal tunnel taking up too much space resulting in compression of the median nerve.
Unfortunately, an EMG cannot tell you which of these two causes is the problem. And that, in turn, can result in unnecessary surgery.
If the problem is arising from tendonitis, I believe it is much better to treat the tendonitis. The way tendonitis occurs is from having too much strain or tension placed on the tendon for too long of a time.
Too much repetitive use of the muscles in the forearm cause them to tighten up. This then makes the tendons tight too, and that can cause them to become inflamed and swollen - a common cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Treatment for tendonitis can include stretching, pysiotherapy, ergonomics (eg typing posture), chiropractic manipulation, nutritional support etc. These are all a lot less invasive and have fewer side effects than surgery.
This does not mean that surgery is not a viable option. My preferred method, of course, is to begin with the least invasive form of therapy. If these options do not bring relief of symptoms, then surgery can be looked at. - 15343
About the Author:
Tired of pain from carpal tunnel syndrome? Check out our other articles by Dr. Steven Trembecki, D.C. on this and other chiropractor treatments.
