|
Millions of people now suffer from CTS
and increasing numbers of them are
seeking chiropractic care. The drug-free
chiropractic approach of releasing nerve
and spine stress by freeing your body of
vertebral subluxations has been a
blessing to millions afflicted with this
condition.
Where is the Carpal
Tunnel?
You won’t find the carpal tunnel on any
map—it’s in your wrist. Your carpal
(wrist) bones form a tunnel-like
structure—the carpal tunnel—through
which pass nine tendons and one
nerve—the median nerve. CTS (also called
occupational neuritis, partial thenar
atrophy and median neuritis) occurs when
the median nerve is irritated.
Who gets CTS?
Just about anyone can get CTS. Years ago
telegraph operators, seamstresses,
carpenters and meat cutters were the
chief sufferers from this condition.
Today it’s office workers, computer
operators, musicians, and assembly line
workers (among others) who are more
prone to it. Fractures, a fall on the
hand or poorly designed and/or vibrating
hand tools may damage the palm of the
hand and also cause CTS. Other causes
are rheumatoid or osteo-arthritis,
Paget’s disease, multiple myeloma,
acromegaly and gout. It is often found
in pregnant women, women who use birth
control pills or individuals with an
under active thyroid.
The Medical Approach
The medical approach to CTS is to stop
using the wrist in the same way by
wearing a splint (wrist immobilization).
Resting the wrist has worked for many
people. In others ice or drugs such as
diuretics or anti-inflammatories were
also used.
In those with persistent
symptoms, corticosteroids may be
injected in to the crease in the hand
near the wrist which may provide relief.
This approach however has a high relapse
rate (and many side effects). As many as
100,000 operations a years are performed
for CTS and recovery from such surgery
may take from 6 months to 10 years.
Limitations of standard medical care led
the late Robert Mendelsohn, MD to state:
Since the medical treatment for this
condition is so often unsatisfactory, I
have for years been recommending that my
patients consult experts in muscle and
joint therapy.
The Chiropractic Approach
Since most people who do repetitive
tasks do not get CTS there appears to be
a contributing factor to this condition.
In many people it may be the health of
the spine and that is why anyone
suffering from CTS should see a
chiropractor to ensure that his/her
spinal column is properly aligned and
free from nerve pressure.
Look closely at a musician, office
worker, computer operator or anyone
suffering from CTS. You’ll see that not
only are the wrists being used to
perform the tasks, the neck and entire
spinal column are also involved in the
activities.
For over a hundred years clinicians,
researchers and patients have reported
relief of classic carpal tunnel symptoms
and improvement in overall body function
after chiropractic spinal adjustments.
How Does Your Spine
Affect Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Vertebral subluxations (spinal nerve
root irritation caused by spinal
misalignment) have been observed in many
patients who have carpal tunnel or
related hand and wrist problems. In
fact, nerve compression in the neck can
block the flow of nutrients to the
nerves in the arm, shoulder, wrist and
related areas, and make them more
susceptible to injure (this is called
the double crush syndrome).
Not surprisingly, when 1,000 cases of
carpal tunnel syndrome were investigated
it was found that a large number of
those suffering from CTS also had neck
arthritis. |
