If you are experiencing intermediate numbness, tingling or pain in the thumb and adjacent two and half fingers in one or both hands, you might be affected by carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
CTS is by far the most common (90%) of all nerve compression syndromes with 1 out of 20 people in the U.S. affected by it.
People between the age of 45 to 60 and pregnant women in their third trimester are most affected. Specifically women are found to be three times more likely to suffer with this condition when compared to men.
CTS has been associated with a number of metabolic and endocrine diseases including diabetes and hypothyroidism, as well as mechanical reasons such as repetitive use of the hand and bad posture during office work.
The carpal tunnel is a C-shaped tunnel formed by the small bones in the wrist at the top and a band-like ligament at the bottom. It acts as protection for a number of tendons and the median nerve as they pass from the forearm to the hand.
The textbook definition of CTS is “compression and subsequent inflammation of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel of the hand.”
However, chiropractors with their extensive knowledge of the nervous system know that often the cause is not as simple.
To this regard, a study published in the British Medical Journal the Lancet, found evidence of cervical neuritis (nerve irritation) in over 70% of all CTS patients suggesting a correlation between cervical subluxations and CTS.
This can be explained by the fact that the carpal tunnel in the hand is only one of the places where the median nerve can get entrapped and inflamed. The cervical and higher thoracic area of the spine and the elbow joint need to be assessed as well for misalignments causing pressure along the course of the nerve and the symptoms that come with it.
If you are experiencing any of the CTS symptoms or you think to be at risk of developing CTS contact one of our chiropractorstoday at Advanced Chiropractic to assess the alignment of your spine and peripheral joints.
