Our busy lifestyles can often have a negative impact on our bodies, especially if our jobs require us to use the same repetitive actions each day. However, there are ways to combat the physical stress our body goes through on a daily basis, and one of those is chiropractic care.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common job-related ailments that affects the hand and wrist. It is named after the Carpal Tunnel passage in the wrist which opens out into the hand. Several tendons, as well as the median nerve, pass through this narrow carpal tunnel. The median nerve branches out from the cervical spine (neck) into the hand and is the nerve that gives feeling to the thumb and first three fingers of the hand. If any of these tendons become inflamed due to injury or overuse, the median nerve becomes compressed and hence causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include:
• Numbness
• Pins and needles in the hand and fingers
• Pain in the wrist area
• Nerve pain in the wrist and hand
• Burning sensation in the wrist and hand
• Radiated nerve pain in the arm and shoulder
• Weakness
If left untreated, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may leave a person unable to move their thumb and they may find it difficult to pick up or hold onto items. Left untreated for too long and it may result in permanent damage.
Seeing the best chiropractor Sydney has to offer is an easy, non-invasive method of managing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Your chiropractor will complete a thorough check of your cervical spine to see if there is any possible compression of the median nerve. They will also check your wrist and elbow before performing gentle manipulations of the affected areas in order to relieve the pressure on the compressed nerve. Another method your chiropractor may use is trigger point therapy, a technique used to release muscle tension, or they may prescribe you a set of stretching exercises or strengthening exercises.
Visiting your chiropractor is a good place to start when it comes to seeking relief from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Book an appointment today to start your healing journey.
Photo: 07.01.2012 – His Hand by Jlhopgood licensed under Creative commons 6