Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common nerve compression conditions in the upper extremity, and one of the most frequently oversimplified. The standard picture most patients are given is a wrist problem caused by repetitive motion at a keyboard. The reality is more complicated.
Carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist, but the nerve itself originates in the cervical spine and travels through the shoulder, elbow, and forearm before it ever reaches the wrist. Compression anywhere along that path can produce symptoms that look and feel identical to classic carpal tunnel syndrome.
That distinction matters because wrist bracing and steroid injections address the wrist. They do not address the nerve above it. Patients who have tried conservative wrist treatment without lasting relief often have a component higher up in the chain that has never been evaluated.
At Lagoni Chiropractic, Dr. Jay takes a whole-arm approach to carpal tunnel syndrome. The evaluation looks at the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, and wrist together to identify where along the nerve pathway compression is occurring. In many cases there are contributing factors at multiple levels simultaneously, a situation sometimes called double crush syndrome, where the nerve is compromised at more than one point along its path.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include numbness, tingling, or burning in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger, weakness in the hand and grip, and pain that may travel up the forearm. Symptoms are often worse at night or after prolonged hand use and may improve temporarily with shaking out the hand.
Treatment at Lagoni Chiropractic may include adjustments to the wrist, elbow, and cervical spine, Arthrostim instrument adjusting, low-level laser therapy to reduce inflammation along the nerve pathway, electric muscle stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, kinesiotaping, and a home exercise program targeting nerve mobility, wrist mechanics, and postural factors that contribute to nerve compression higher in the chain.
If you have been managing carpal tunnel symptoms and have not gotten lasting relief, call us at (765) 778-4095 or fill out the form on our New Patient page.
Serving Pendleton, Anderson, Fortville, Lapel, and the surrounding area. Most major insurance accepted.