Do I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrom?

Ask yourself:

• Do your wrists and hands ache from overuse?
• Do you wake up with your fingers curled and stiff?
• Do your hands burn, tingle, or feel numb?
• Do you fumble when lifting objects?
• Do your hands seem to have less than normal strength?

You may have carpal tunnel or a related repetitive strain injury/cumulative trauma disorder (RSI/CTD). Some form of repetitive stress disorder - mostly carpal tunnel - is now occurring in fully 15 percent of the U.S. workforce. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that CTD's currently account for over 60 percent of workplace injuries. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates CTD's cost $27 billion annually in medical treatment and lost income. According to Newsweek (6/26/95), claims for repetitive strain disorders cost employers some $100 billion annually.

RSI/CTD is epidemic.

Medical treatment focuses on the carpal tunnel, where the median nerve crosses the underside of the wrist. The most common medical treatment is a combination of wrist/forearm bracing and anti-inflammatory medication (steroids or nonsteroidal - ibuprofen, etc.). If that doesn't help, surgery is suggested - cutting the flexor retinaculum across the wrist. While this gives dramatic short-term relief of the symptoms, it can create additional problems:

• Rigid bracing is uncomfortable. Long-term, it increases the sticky adhesions that form in the connective tissue covering of the muscles and tendons. While the arm, wrist and hand feel better when kept from moving, the underlying problem is still present and may be even worse when the brace is removed.

• Anti-inflammatory drugs also block the pathways that heal connective tissue. With chronic use, this creates a cycle of incomplete healing and a dependency on the drugs to reduce recurring swelling and pain.

• Anti-inflammatory drugs are damaging to the lining of the stomach and intestines. In fact, they are the number one cause of admissions to hospitals for gastrointestinal bleeding.

• Scar tissue often grows over the carpal tunnel. In approximately 80 percent of the surgeries the symptoms return within two years.

A better route is conservative treatment: chiropractic, massage, myofascial release, neurolymphatic reflex points, acupuncture, nutrition, specific exercises, and correction of poor ergonomic working conditions. In addition to carpal tunnel, these treatments address related problems, such as trigger points in the muscle of the forearm and neck, vertebral subluxations of the neck, and chronic forward postural strain.

Midwest Chiropractic has successfully treated a number of people with carpal tunnel and other RSI/CTD. Our experience has shown that conservative, non-surgical, non-drug treatment is effective in most cases. It is certainly the route to follow first. Most importantly, it has no unwanted side effects.

In the unlikely event that your case is beyond the body's ability to repair itself with conservative care, the medical/surgical route is still available. If you do not experience some improvement within three weeks, your case may unfortunately be so severe that a neurological consultation is advisable and surgery may be required.

While the course of recovery varies with each case, if both you and your chiropractor perform your healing tasks diligently, you can expect good, lasting recovery within three to four months. If you do not respond by this time Midwest Chiropractic will refer you one of the skilled surgeons in our healing network.

In closing, remember that if you continue the same conditions that led to the injury in the first place, you will be back at square one - in pain and, perhaps, unable to work. As outlined in phase three below, ongoing preventative care is imperative to stay healthy.