I was talking to a patient and I decided to write about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) today. When people think “chiropractic,” they often think of back and neck problems.
But chiropractic has many applications beyond these typical uses, and it can improve quality of life for a broad range of health conditions. Most people think of Chiropractors as bone doctors, when in reality we are actually nerve doctors, similar to a neurologist. With that said, let’s talk about Carpal Tunnel.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a ‘repetitive stress injury’, which is abbreviated (RSI). Chiropractic is a beneficial treatment for patients seeking noninvasive relief from this ailment that has become all too common in the modern world.
How Does a Chiropractor Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive motion, such as typing or assembly line work, which causes pain and injury over time. The earlier that an RSI is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. Diagnosis includes physical examination and possibly x-rays. Typically, the chiropractic treatment for RSI includes care of the affected wrist and elbow, as well as adjustments of the upper spine.
A spinal adjustment involves applying controlled pressure to a joint. We may also advise the patient to rest the affected arm, apply cold to reduce inflammation, perform appropriate exercises, or wear a splint or brace to immobilize the area.
Some common treatments we use for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Chiropractic care of the wrist, arm, and upper spine: Misalignment in the spine does contribute to symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. At this office we perform SPECIFIC adjustments that aim to correct improper alignment in YOUR spine. We typically perform an adjustment using our hands, but sometimes devices are employed. Everyone’s case is different.
Ultrasound therapy: This therapy uses either very high-energy or low-energy sound, both of which are “outside” the range of normal human hearing, so you usually don’t hear anything. This device emits focused sound waves that penetrate deep into body tissue. Sound waves relax muscles, alleviate pain, and reduce inflammation in the area of involvement.
Wrist supports: Wrist supports seek to keep the wrist in the proper alignment after the adjustments and the therapy and can be used to treat or prevent further injury from carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have a loved one that needs care, please talk to the receptionist to set an appointment. Please ask for the necessary initial paperwork so your referral can start filling their paperwork out from home. This helps them and us as well.
Let me know if we need to call someone for you. I don’t mind spending a few minutes with them on the phone, finding out if they’re a candidate for this office. If we can help them, we’ll tell them. If we can’t, we’ll refer them out if necessary.
Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX. 76116 (817) 423-2600
