Carpal tunnel syndrome is a type of hand injury that involves compression on the median nerve in the wrist. A person’s anatomical structure can cause this injury, or it can result from a health condition, such as arthritis. People who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome tend to have hand stiffness, poor grip, and hand pain.
If you or a loved one has developed this type of injury, our physicians at Specific Care Chiropractic invite you to our office to receive Cape Coral carpal tunnel syndrome treatment. We will assess the severity of your symptoms and start implementing therapies to help you restore flexibility and motor functions in your hand(s).
Computer Usage Is Not a Proven Cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome has a reputation for being a hand injury related to extensive computer usage, playing video games, and repetitive hand motions. However, according to Mayo Clinic, there is no definitive evidence that correlates carpal tunnel syndrome with hand activity, although a person’s hand might cramp if kept in the same position for long periods.
Rather, carpal tunnel syndrome is more often the result of a person’s genetic predisposition. In some cases, it can be a side effect of a chronic illness or medication. Some causal factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- A person’s hand anatomy or a genetic predisposition to developing hand arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis and other illnesses that cause inflammation
- Any condition that can lead to nerve damage, such as diabetes
- Fluid retention or other major body fluid changes, which is common among women who are pregnant or going through menopause
- Certain medical problems, such as kidney failure, thyroid dysfunction, and lymphedema
- Breast cancer medications, such as Arimidex
- Obesity
Women are more prone to suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome than men. Their hand structure is smaller on average, and they are likely to go through body fluid changes during pregnancy and menopause.
Our Physicians Will Ask About Your Condition Before Prescribing Treatment
When you come to our Cape Coral office, which is located near Cape Coral Hospital on Del Prado Boulevard, and inquire about carpal tunnel syndrome treatment, we will have you fill out a questionnaire to give us some background on your medical history and current symptoms.
Some questions we’ll ask may involve:
Your Medical History
We will want to know about current conditions you have that may affect how you’ll respond to treatment, such as any heart conditions, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
Previous or Other Injuries
If this is not your first injury, you should mention any injuries you’ve had or have, along with your carpal tunnel syndrome. For example, if you suffered a herniated disk in your cervical area (neck region), nerve damage from the herniation could have spread out to your extremities, such as your shoulders or wrists.
Current Symptoms
We’ll also want to gauge the severity of your carpal tunnel syndrome. We will ask if you’ve experienced certain symptoms, such as hand stiffness or numbness, pain or discomfort in the hand or wrist, and muscle weakness that affects your hand grip or strength.
Medications
As mentioned, certain medications can cause carpal tunnel syndrome as a side effect. We’ll ask about which prescription medicines you’re taking in case they might be causing other underlying conditions in your body.
After a brief consultation with you, one of our physicians will perform a physical exam and request X-ray images or other imaging exam results to see if any other hand injuries may be causing you pain, such as a fracture or sprain you were unaware of.
Once we have the results of all of your diagnostic tests, we will build a treatment plan for you and have you come in for a second appointment to explain the therapies we’ll utilize before performing the first session.
Chiropractic Care Can Serve as a Treatment Method for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
At Specific Care Chiropractic, we practice evidence-based chiropractic techniques to treat various musculoskeletal injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome. We advocate for patients and observant chiropractic care for our patients so that they remain in safe hands when we treat them.
At our facility, we practice various chiropractic adjustment techniques, including manual manipulation on the extremities, which includes the hands and wrists. However, should we discover that a spinal-related injury may be causing your carpal tunnel syndrome as a side effect, we may perform other spinal manipulations to relieve your symptoms.
Studies that Support Chiropractic Medicine for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
The following studies found promising results for people who used chiropractic care as a treatment method for their carpal tunnel syndrome:
Active Release Technique Can Be an Effective Pain Management Strategy
The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine reported on a study about the efficacy of musculoskeletal manipulations on people with carpal tunnel syndrome. The study found that patients reported significant improvement and regained functional properties in their hands.
Chiropractic Manipulation Relieves Pain From Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported on the improvement of a 42-year-old woman’s condition as she underwent chiropractic treatment. Study results showed she “made a demonstrable difference” through various tests and increased her grip strength as well as her motor and sensory functions. She also reduced her pain symptoms.
Older Patients Can Use Chiropractic Treatment as Pain Management
Provided that chiropractors keep older patients’ medical histories in mind, older patients can benefit from chiropractic treatment and manage their pain symptoms, according to a study reported in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. Patients saw improvement after going through passive stretch exercise regiments and receiving soft tissue work, among other therapies.
Physical Therapy Can Help Patients Restore Flexibility and Mobility in Their Hands
Our facility also offers physiotherapy treatments to supplement our chiropractic adjustment techniques, which include:
- Rehabilitative therapy
- Corrective care
- Massage therapy
- Stretching and strengthening therapy
- Ultrasound therapy
- Electrical muscle stimulation (E-STIM) therapy
You can learn more about these therapies during your appointment.
Start Your Cape Coral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
While some people reduce the seriousness of carpal tunnel syndrome as nothing but a hand injury, this condition can lead to chronic pain in other parts of your body besides the hands and wrists. If left untreated, you or a loved one may face limitations and find doing daily or work tasks too difficult.
Our physicians offer chiropractic care to help patients with carpal tunnel syndrome relieve pain and other discomforts. To learn more about how our facility can help you with your condition, call 239-369-9109 to schedule your first appointment at Specific Care Chiropractic in Cape Coral.