What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist. The median nerve runs down the arm, through the wrist, and into the hand. This nerve provides signals from the brain that regulate the motor functions going from your forearm to your hand.
When the wrist is overused, abnormally flexed, swollen, or injured, it can result in the pinching or compression of the median nerve. This causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel can also be caused or worsened if the nerve flow from the Central Nervous System (CNS) is disrupted.
Signs and Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome usually begins with numbness or tingling in the hands and/or wrists. It may affect one or both hands. As the condition progresses, patients may experience pain and may find their grip has noticeably weakened.
The rise in technology brought about a surge of carpal tunnel syndrome cases. The way we use our hands and fingers to tap for hours on a keyboard, swipe on our smartphones, or operate controls for video games causes swollen tendons that compress the median nerve and cause the condition. If you spend a lot of your day using technology for work or entertainment, you may be at higher risk of developing carpal tunnel.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
While carpal tunnel syndrome may cause problems in the wrist and hands, often the source of the problem can be found higher up: in the neck. The upper cervical spine sits just below the skull, near where the brain stem connects to the spinal cord. Many vital nerve clusters run through this area of the spine.
When the upper cervical spine is misaligned, it can cause a domino effect of problems cascading down the body. Inflammation around the brain stem or neck can compress or pinch nerves, disrupting the signals from the brain or causing nerves to misfire. This can lead to a host of nerve-related problems, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
How Our Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment Works
While your healthcare provider may offer advice and treatment to manage discomfort in your hands and wrists, we like to make sure that the culprit isn't the upper cervical spine. Our upper cervical specialist, Dr. Bejian Shamloo, uses advanced diagnostic imaging tools to locate any possible misalignments in the vertebrae that may be causing nerve compression.
Dr. Shamloo begins treatment with a thorough assessment of the upper cervical spine with advanced 3-D imaging, diagnostic tools far superior to the traditional black-and-white X-rays. These revolutionizing tools allow the doctor to detect misalignments, no matter how minuscule, and help him to formulate a treatment plan specific to your anatomy's needs.
Dr. Shamloo offers patients with carpal tunnel a safe, effective, drug-free, non-invasive treatment option. He can make adjustments to the upper cervical spine that are more precise and more gentle, and that hold longer thanks to those advanced diagnostic tools and his expert knowledge.
Once the spine is properly aligned, it reduces inflammation and alleviates compression on the nerves. The body's natural healing mechanisms are then activated to repair damage and restore proper functioning.
Contact Dr. Shamloo if you are interested in natural treatments for carpal tunnel. Dr. Shamloo provides upper cervical chiropractic treatment for patients in Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, Farragut, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Lenoir City, Karns, Hardin Valley, Powell, Halls, and Fountain City in Tennessee, as well as the surrounding areas.
