Chiropractic care with Dr. Gina Beech at Bethesda Back Center in Bethesda, MD can help you achieve natural and lasting relief from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What Causes It and How Is It Treated?
Your wrist has a type of opening that consists of bones, the carpal ligament, and the median nerve. This opening is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve is responsible for the motor functions and sensory information to the thumb and your middle three fingers.
Unfortunately, the nerve can get “pinched” or compressed, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome and causing some uncomfortable symptoms. These include pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the hand. How does it become compressed and what can be done? Dr. Beech at Bethesda Back Center in Bethesda, MD answers these questions below.
Top Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
In some cases, the condition is linked to genetics, as people with a family history of carpal tunnel syndrome are more likely to develop it themselves. Conditions like diabetes, thyroid imbalances, arthritis, osteoarthritis, and menopause can play a role. Women who are pregnant might also develop carpal tunnel syndrome, due to hormonal changes and swelling.
However, most cases of the condition are linked to repetitive movements of the hands. For example, someone who types on a keyboard for work or school might suffer from the condition due to the constant and repetitive movement of the hands and fingers.
Likewise, athletes often develop carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive grasping movements. And those who work with vibrating hand tools, such as construction workers, are also more likely to experience it, as the vibrations can aggravate the nerve.
Injuries or trauma to the hand or wrist can also lead to the condition. This is because they cause swelling, which can put pressure on the nerve.
Chiropractic Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
There is a common thought that surgery is necessary to relieve the compressed nerve, but this is typically not the case. Chiropractic care can help safely and naturally relieve compression through manipulation, therapeutic exercises, soft tissue techniques, and adjustments that you can apply to your habits and work practices. A personalized treatment plan can be developed after an assessment of your condition, symptoms, and general musculoskeletal health.
Find freedom from carpal tunnel syndrome and its debilitating symptoms with the help of Dr. Beech at Bethesda Back Center in Bethesda, MD. Call (301) 897-8500 to schedule your appointment today.