Carpal Tunnel Treatment
Whether you have been doing research for a project, or getting ready to launch a new business all of the time on the internet has taken its toll on you.
When you finish you begin to notice a dull ache in your wrist (the one that handles the mouse), there is an annoying tingling sensation in your thumb and the tendons in your forearm hurt whenever you move your fingers. You want carpal tunnel treatment.
"Oh, no," you think. "I’ve got carpal tunnel syndrome."
Treatment for Carpal Tunnel vs Repetitive Stress Syndrome
Though painful, most likely it is not carpal tunnel syndrome.
It is much more likely you have developed repetitive stress syndrome, which can be effectively treated at Alpine Spinal Rehabilitation.
Our carpal tunnel treatment works especially well to relieve repetitive stress syndrome.
Carpal Tunnel Diagnosis
Repetitive stress syndrome is often misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome by family physicians, internists, and even many orthopedists.
The doctor thinks, "wrist pain and thumb pain, it must be carpal tunnel" which leads to a lot of unnecessary neurologic testing, needless medication, and unwarranted surgeries. Instead, try out our carpal tunnel treatment.
Carpal Tunnel Uncommon
True carpal tunnel syndrome, caused when there is pressure or inflammation on the median nerve which passes through a series of three bones in the wrist called the carpal tunnel, is actually uncommon and usually associated with pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, or decreased thyroid activity. (1,2)
There is a quick test to see if you might be a victim of carpal tunnel syndrome. Place the tips of your thumb and index finger together, forming a circle. Hold the circle closed while another person tries to pry your fingers apart. If your fingers are strong and can keep the circle closed, you probably don't have carpal tunnel syndrome.
The wrist, tendon, and forearm pain most of us experience after too much time at the computer is due to repetitive stress syndrome – essentially, too much of the same activity repeated frequently over too long a time.
Often the pain felt in the hands is actually caused by the tightening of the muscles in the neck and around brachial plexus of the shoulder.
Carpal Tunnel Solution
The primary solution is rest and avoidance of repetitive or irritating activities. In practice, rest can be relative rest.(3)
For instance, one key approach for computer-related repetitive stress is to begin using the opposite hand to do mouse, or trackpad activities and periodically switch hands. Or adjust your office chair properly so that there isn’t any tension through your neck and shoulders as you sit.
Treatment
At Alpine Spinal Rehabilitation our carpal tunnel treatment can help with those issues that don’t resolve with rest alone.
The ProAdjuster technology we use in our office can help restore proper motion to the problem areas of the neck and its acupressure technology to help relieve tight muscular “knots” through the shoulder girdle and forearm.
Additionally, our MedX rehabilitation technology allows us to rehabilitate any imbalances developed in the muscle from repetitive activities.
If you or someone you know is suffering from carpal tunnel or repetitive stress syndrome schedule an appointment today and enjoy decreased pain, greater mobility, and a renewed focus on the work you want to get done.
External Links and References:
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Piazzini DB, et al. A systematic review of conservative treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Clin Rehabil 21(4):299-314, 2007.
- Akuthota V, et al. Shoulder and elbow overuse injuries in sports. Arch Med Phys Rehabil 85(3 Suppl 1):S52-58, 2004.
