What is Carpal Tunnel SyndromeˇH

The carpal tunnel is a restricted place at the front of the wrist, bounded by ligaments, through which pass the tendons that flex the fingers and wrist. This space is roofed over by a tough ligament, called the flexor retinaculum which prevents the tendons from pulling away from the wrist when it is bent. One of the two sensory nerves to the hand, the median nerve, also passes through the carpal tunnel and there is little or no room for expansion. Any swelling in the region, from any causes, will therefore tend to compress the median nerve and interfere with the conduction of nerve impulses. The result is numbness and tingling, sometimes even pain, in the half of the hand on the thumb side which is supplied by the nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs most commonly in women of middle age although the disease causing agent of this common condition is still poorly understood.


What are the symptoms?
1. Early symptoms are pain and tingling felt in the fingers. This tingling is often most troublesome at night or waking in the morning.
2. Numbness in these fingers renders the handling of small objects difficult and this is accompanied by the weakening of the tendons in the wrist and the resulting weakness in opposition further adds to the clumsiness of the hand.

What are the treatments?
1. Splinting of the wrist during the day and if possible the night also.
2. Shockwave, interferential, infrared therapy at the wrist can help to disperse swelling.
3. This can be combined with gentle mobilisation or gentle chiropractic adjustment of the wrist bones to help establish space in the tunnel which has been lost due to prolonged swelling. Other joints are also assessed for any secondary or associated problems, including neck, thorax, elbow and shoulder.