You wake up in the middle of the night to your right hand tingling, and a couple of your fingers are numb.  You head back to bed thinking you must have slept on it wrong.  Over time, though, even during the day, you find it hard to squeeze things, and suddenly it hits you:

“These might be carpal tunnel symptoms…”

You look up the symptoms online, and a sense of dread fills your mind as you imagine having carpal tunnel surgery.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the most expensive work-related injury in Kansas City.  Patients who seek treatment for carpal tunnel through surgery often lose more than $30,000 in medical costs and work absences.

But surgery isn’t the only way to treat carpal tunnel.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is diagnosed when the median nerve (the nerve that runs down the forearm into the hand) becomes compressed in the carpal tunnel (a narrow tunnel in the wrist with bones and soft tissues.)  This compression often causes pain or numbness in the wrist and hand.

Carpal tunnel surgery is a well-known but invasive way to correct this problem, but it doesn’t always eliminate the symptoms. During carpal tunnel surgery, a surgeon cuts the (the transverse carpal ligament) to release the pressure on the carpal bones and nerves that run through the wrist.

Following the surgery, scar tissue eventually fills in the transverse carpal ligament, making the “tunnel” wider.

Recovery time after surgery is usually 6-12 weeks.

The Alternative to Carpal Tunnel Surgery in Kansas City

The good news is that, a conservative approach to treatment for carpal tunnel symptoms can be extremely effective.  In fact, in many cases, carpal tunnel symptoms are caused by nerve interference in the spine, neck, elbow or wrist.

Studies have shown marked improvement in carpal tunnel symptoms through chiropractic treatment.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is considered a repetitive stress injury (caused by repetitive motion).  Here are some of the most common culprits:

• Typing
• Working with small tools (artist, mechanic, hair dresser)
• Gardening/Playing piano
• Working on an assembly line

Your doctor can diagnose carpal tunnel after a physical exam and X-rays.

Chiropractic treatment is extremely effective in treating carpal tunnel symptoms.  A chiropractor can determine if the spine is the primary source of the symptoms through a thorough examination of the nerves that move from the spine through the shoulder, down the arm and into the wrist.  If any of these nerves are irritated along the path, they could be the cause of carpal tunnel symptoms.

How Do Chiropractors Treat Carpal Tunnel Symptoms?

• Adjusting the wrist, arm, and upper spine: A subluxation (misalignment) in the spine can often be the cause of carpal tunnel symptoms.  This means that you may have the symptoms of carpal tunnel because of nerve interference in your neck or upper back.  Only a doctor can determine if the source of your symptoms stem from your spine or reside in your wrist.  Our Kansas City doctors of chiropractic (DCs) use chiropractic adjustments to correct misalignments in the spine and restore motion to joints that are locked up.  Chiropractors also examine and treat the wrist and arm.  After a thorough examination we can determine the source of your symptoms. Our goal is to offer relief from carpal tunnel symptoms, naturally, if at all possible.

• Physical Therapy and Ultrasound: Ultrasound uses high-energy or low-energy sound that emits focused sound waves that penetrate deep into body tissue. These sound waves can relax tightened muscles, alleviate hand and wrist pain, and reduce inflammation in injured joints.

• Wrist supports: Wrist supports help to keep the wrist in proper alignment.

A Carpal Tunnel Test You Can Run Yourself

Place your hands back to back.  Is there an increase in numbness, tingling or pain?  If so, you may have a carpal tunnel problem.

Chiropractic treatment is a safe, noninvasive treatment for carpal tunnel symptoms.  After a thorough exam, your chiropractor will perform specific chiropractic adjustments where needed.  This helps to normalize structure and reduce nerve irritation.  When given time, conservative chiropractic treatment has produced excellent results with carpal tunnel problems – without drugs or surgery.

Open 7 Days a Week, our Kansas City chiropractors specialize in relief from carpal tunnel symptoms.  By offering walk-in chiropractic care to Kansas City residents, we provide pain relief when patients need it most.

Learn more about the 7 Early Warning signs of Carpal Tunnel.