Carpal Tunnel Pain in Chicago IL?

Did you know that just as nerves become pinched in your back by the bones in your spine, the bones in your wrist may also compress nearby nerves giving rise to the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome? While many people seek treatment through surgical means, our Chicago IL chiropractor at Elite Total Rehab has had success in treating carpel tunnel syndrome through non-invasive adjustments to the bones of the wrist.
With surgical procedures costing anywhere between $6,000 and $11,000 dollars and only resulting in full resolution of symptoms in less than 60% of the cases, many people are beginning to elect a more conservative approach to care. For these reasons, our doctors at Elite Total Rehab have prepared this short article to provide you some general information about carpal tunnel and the alternative treatment solutions available.
Carpal Tunnel in Chicago IL
Many people visit our clinic with complaints of wrist pain and questions regarding what exactly carpal tunnel syndrome feels like. Typically, as the median nerve is compressed due to swelling and bony misalignments of the wrist, patients begin to feel sensations of burning, pain, tingling or swelling extending from the first to the third digit and the thumb. It is not uncommon for patients to report that they have recently noticed weakness throughout the affected hand or that picking up small objects isn’t as easy as usual. Occasionally people develop the feeling of swelling in their hand as the median nerve becomes compressed, even when no swelling is present.
In addition to questions about what carpal tunnel syndrome feels like, patients often wonder how they developed the condition. Typically, the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome isn’t completely evident. However, some patients are able to recall an injury to the wrist that caused the symptoms to develop shortly after. Certain occupations have also been shown to contribute to the development of the condition with jobs that involve long-term use of vibrating instruments and the repetitious use of the hands and wrist topping the list. Finally, metabolic disorders involving the pituitary and thyroid gland can also contribute to its development.
Depending on the activity, carpal tunnel typically begins in a person’s dominant hand, but symptoms throughout both hands is not uncommon. Unfortunately, many health care professionals only focus on the site of pain when the problem actually lies elsewhere. In fact, it has been shown that patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome in both arms typically have nerve irritation stemming from the spine. This is often why carpal tunnel decompression surgeries are unsuccessful nearly 40% of the time. While carpal tunnel is more common in the dominant hand, it is also nearly 3 times more common in women due to the size of the tunnel itself.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes
This disorder is usually due to repetitive stress, such as prolonged typing. The cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve, a nerve that passes through the wrist into the hand, more specifically the thumb, pointer finger, middle finger, and the ring finger (on the middle finger side). Symptoms are usually increased when the wrist is extended (bent backward) or flexed (bent downward). When the median nerve is compressed patients may feel numbness, tingling, and even weakness into the lateral hand (thumb, pointer, middle, and lateral aspect of the ring finger). This condition may mimic cervical radiculopathy in the fact that they may both create hand symptoms.
Carpel tunnel syndrome is usually isolated to the hand, whereas radiculopathy patients may experience symptoms over the entire arm extending into the hand. A thorough evaluation and review of symptoms by a trained clinician should isolate the area of concern. Diagnostic testing such as an MRI or a nerve conduction test may be performed to better evaluate this condition. Carpal tunnel syndrome is often misdiagnosed and sometimes surgery is performed. Performing surgery can sometimes relieve this symptom if the actual condition is entrapment of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel. If the condition is associated with other disorders and misdiagnosed the surgery will not be effective and can cause scar tissue, leading to a failed surgery.
Wrist and Finger Pain
Pain in the wrist and finger is not abnormal. People with repetitive jobs such as working at a computer or assembly line workers place their wrists and hands in constant tension to perform work activities. If recent trauma is reported such as a fall or strike different approaches are taken to the evaluation process.
X-rays may usually be taken to properly evaluate the bony structures of the wrist and hand. Assuming there is no pathology with the bone (negative for fractures, tumors, metabolic disorder) the muscles in the wrist and hand may be overloaded and tight causing your symptoms. A thorough evaluation and review of symptoms by a trained clinician should isolate the area of concern and address the issues to help alleviate your complaint.
What are the Best Treatments Available?
The most appropriate treatment for your carpal tunnel syndrome largely depends on the underlying cause. As with most conditions, it is advised that patients begin with a non-invasive and more affordable treatment. While prescription medications, decompression surgeries, and forms of physical therapy may provide short-term relief, the symptoms often reappear without the correction of the nerve interference in the spine. Your chiropractor at Elite Total Rehab will perform an evaluation of your condition and formulate an individualized treatment plan that best suits you. Following spinal corrections, many patients experience substantial improvements in their symptoms. If symptoms persist, adjustments to the bones of the wrist and therapies to the surrounding tissues are often considered.
At Elite Total Rehab in Chicago, IL we understand that making decisions about how to treat carpal tunnel syndrome can be difficult. If you would like more information about carpal tunnel or schedule a consultation, contact our clinic today.
Monday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
By Appointment
Sunday
Closed
Elite Total Rehab
7008 W. Higgins Ave
Chicago, IL 60656