Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

LUCENT CHIROPRACTIC     310.592.7095     11633 San Vicente Blvd.Suite # 214 Los Angeles, CA  90049

Most people who work with computers present with wrist and hand symptoms similar to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, in order to accurately diagnose CTS, electromyogram (EMG) is done to measure the actual nerve activity. Frequently, people self-diagnose any wrist and hand pain as carpal tunnel syndrome without proper diagnostic tools. What we find is that the wrist, forearm, and hand pain is not due to carpal tunnel but due to muscle tension of the forearm and elbow. Another condition which is more common than CTS is Pronator Teres Syndrome which mimics the symptoms of CTS. Patients presenting with CTS-like symptoms often find relief with muscle work and chiropractic adjustments of the wrist and elbows. A desperate resort to CTS by some people is surgery which sometimes is ineffective as the symptoms come back after several months to a couple of years. The key is proper diagnosis so we can address the real cause of the problem. More often than not, the problem is around the elbow area and not at the wrist itself. Remember, we want to avoid surgery and its complications at all costs when the problem can be treated conservatively.

A 1999 study reported that 14% of the population surveyed complained of symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands, but only one in five of these people actually had CTS.