Carpal Tunnel Syndrome refers to a variety of symptoms, including numbness, tingling and pain the in the hand, wrist and arm and associated weakness or wasting away of hand muscles that are supplied by the Median Nerve. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when tendons in the wrist become inflamed after being aggravated. A tunnel of bones and ligaments in the wrist narrows, pinching nerves that reach the fingers and the muscle at the base of the thumb.

When we investigate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as to how one gets it and how to fix it, there is much discussion and little agreement. The information from the medical community refers to CTS in terms of splinting, injections, "chronic," and always discusses protocol for surgery. Some attorneys talk about permanent disability. All this involves great expense to insurance companies and employers, but even greater expense in dollars and life-style decline to the unfortunate individual with CTS.

Often, Carpal Tunnel is discussed in conjunction with information on work-related injuries, specifically, that the cause of CTS is repetitive movements on the job. But, why is it that, with two people standing next to each other, both doing the exact same repetitive job or task, only one is "struck" by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? The bottom line is this: It is because the job or task, itself, does not cause CTS - otherwise, everyone everywhere, on that job, doing that task, would suffer from it.

There is a building body of scientific and chiropractic research that points to the utilization of conservative chiropractic care to remove the cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which is the impingement of the nerves supplying the arm and hand. Often, when there is a vertebral subluxation, or misalignment of one or more of the spinal bones in the neck, the brain is not able to send a strong, steady nerve current to the arm and hand. The effect is like that of a diminished electrical current, which causes a dimmed light. This imperfect nerve flow can result in an inflammation or swelling of the median nerve, which is then easily irritated within the wrist by repetitive movement. The result is the numbness, Tingling, pain, and weakness.

With the rising incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the workplace, there is considerable interest in developing an approach to evaluating and addressing CTS causally, curatively, and cost effectively. Additional studies are being conducted at major chiropractic colleges right now, which are very encouraging. Employers of CTS sufferers and the insurance companies should take note of chiropractic's role in correcting the cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

For those suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the direction to go is clearly marked. You can drive yourself crazy "going through the Carpal Tunnel" or drive yourself to our clinic this week and have your spine checked for those spinal misalignments which lead you to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.