Do you have SYMPTOMS of:

• Arm/Hand/Finger Numbness?
  
• Arm/Hand/Finger Pain?
• Arm/Hand/Finger Tingling?
• Arm/Hand/Finger Weakness?

Do you know what your options are?

• Drugs!?
  
• Surgery!?
  
• Doing Nothing!?

• How about a Safe, Natural, EFFECTIVE treatment...
  

Many people with hand or finger pain/numbness/tingling think they have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  They look up the symptoms on the internet and do different things to make it better, but what is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?


TRUE CTS is when the Transverse Carpal Ligament in the wrist becomes damaged or inflamed and causes irritation to the Median Nerve of the hand.  This is what causes the characteristic numbness, tingling and weakness INTO THE THUMB, INDEX FINGER, MIDDLE FINGER AND HALF OF THE RING FINGER.

This irritation can come about from repetitive motions such as writing, using a mouse or keyboard, scanning groceries, playing a WII or Ipod Touch, etc.

But why is it important to get a proper diagnosis?  Let me tell you why... there are many causes of hand/finger numbness/tingling/weakness OTHER THAN CTS!  It is important to figure out the TRUE cause of your symptoms because you may be treating the WRONG area! 

Carpal tunnel surgery has about a 57% failure rate following patients from 1-day to 6-years. At least one of the following symptoms re-occurred during this time: Pain, Numbness, Tingling sensations. Source: Nancollas, et al, 1995. J. Hand Surgery.

This is because a surgery is often performed to remove the symptoms, but the cause of the symptoms is something else.

So what are some other causes of CTS SYMPTOMS?

1. A thyroid condition can lead to fluid retention in the body. This fluid retention causes mechanical pressure on nerves, and the Median nerve in the hand is often affected.

          2.  Most common TRUE cause of CTS symptoms is an issue with the neck muscles and spine.
The median nerve to the hand originates from the spinal cord, comes out between the vertebrae in the neck, go through a bunch of muscles in the neck and arm and ends in your hand.  If the nerve gets irritated at any of these levels it can cause symptoms into the hand.  Many people with CTS symptoms also have neck pain or a history of car accident, whiplash or poor posture... which leads to #3!

           3.  Poor Posture/Ergonomics can also predispose someone to CTS symptoms.  If you do not have proper curvature or      
           alignment of your neck it can cause inflammation and irritation to the nerves and muscular structures of the neck.

So what can you do to treat CTS?

• First, you want to find out WHERE EXACTLY IS IT COMING FROM.  This can only be properly done by a physician.  Chiropractors specifically look at all the areas that can cause these symptoms to determine the exact location and proper treatment.

• B vitamins are commonly prescribed for CTS symptoms because B vitamins help to heal nerves damaged by inflammation and other causes.

• Fix your posture!!!

Chiropractic care is very safe and effective in the treatment of many conditions, including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  Chiropractic methods are non-invasive, non-surgical and drug free, and many times can correct the problem without further intervention.