Osteopathy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common nerve condition that causes tingling, pain and weakness in the hand. Successful management requires identifying and treating the underlying causes, and this is where osteopathy can help.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
The median nerve is one of the major nerves in the arm. It passes from the neck, along the length of the arm and into the hand, providing movement and sensation to half the palm, the thumb and first three fingers.
As it enters the hand, the median nerve travels through a small, bony tunnel in the wrist, made up of the small wrist (or ‘carpal’) bones. Because space is tight, the nerve is at risk of compression, which triggers the symptoms of CTS.
Who gets carpal tunnel syndrome?
CTS is primarily an overuse injury. Although it can affect people of any age, it’s mostly seen in working age adults who have work or hobbies that involve repetitive wrist movement. This might be typing, playing an instrument, or using vibrating tools.
CTS can also come on after an injury that causes swelling and inflammation, such as a wrist fracture or sprain.
Sometimes, CTS occurs because of body-wide conditions that increase pressure or inflammation in the wrist. These include pregnancy, diabetes, overweight, hypothyroidism and arthritis.
CTS occurs in around two to three times as many women as men. This may be to do with hormonal differences or the fact that women have smaller wrists. Some researchers, however, have concluded that the difference is not so great, but that men are less likely to be diagnosed with CTS.
What are the symptoms of CTS?
Symptoms of CTS typically start with tingling in the hand. The condition often comes on gradually, and symptoms come and go at first.
As the condition progresses, the symptoms can spread and develop. Symptoms include:
- Tingling or pins and needles involving the thumb-side half of the palm of the hand, the thumb, index, middle, and half the ring finger. Imagine gripping a ball in the palm of your hand with your thumb and first three fingers – this is roughly the area involved.
- Pain in the same area. Pain may also spread upward into the forearm, elbow or even shoulder.
- Later, the muscles at the base of the thumb may become weak, meaning difficulty with gripping, a tendency to drop things, and trouble with fine movements such as doing up buttons.
- Symptoms are often worse during the night and first thing in the morning, as fluid can build up in the wrist overnight. Shaking the hands can ease the symptoms.
What else could it be?
Pain and tingling in the hand can result from problems other than CTS.
Tendinitis in the wrist produces pain, inflammation and weakness. And, if it affects tendons that also run through the cramped carpal tunnel, it can lead to CTS as the inflamed tendon presses on the median nerve.
The median nerve can also be affected by problems further up. For example, arthritic neck vertebrae or a bulging disc can also press on nerves, leading to hand tingling, pain and weakness.
Rheumatoid arthritis typically produces wrist pain and inflammation. However, the symptoms generally occur in both hands.
A qualified osteopath can differentiate carpal tunnel syndrome from other problems to give an accurate diagnosis.
How can osteopathy alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome?
At OCHK, our osteopaths understand the myriad factors that can influence pressure in the carpal tunnel. They perform a comprehensive assessment to identify the specific factors in each case.
Some of the things they look for include joint restrictions, muscle imbalance, fluid congestion, and postural issues that affect wrist function.
Let’s look at an example of how osteopathy can help carpal tunnel syndrome.
Mrs R came to us with troublesome tingling and clumsiness affecting her right hand. Our osteopath did some tests and diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome.
During assessment, the osteopath found that one of the small wrist bones had shifted slightly, tightening the carpal tunnel. Mrs R also had muscle tension in her forearm, and restriction of the elbow meaning she couldn’t rotate her hand fully.
The osteopath reduced muscle tension with soft tissue techniques, and mobilised the restricted joints, normalising wrist and elbow function.
This treatment greatly improved her symptoms. However, she did have some residual issues.
At her second attendance, the osteopath worked on tension around her shoulder, the base of her neck and her upper back, with the aim of improving fluid drainage from the arm.
This did the trick – Mrs R’s symptoms went away completely.
Such cases show how important it is to recognise all the underlying causes that combine to produce a condition.
In identifying and treating all the compounding factors that underpin a problem, we can achieve complete and long-lasting resolution without the need for medication or surgical intervention.
Osteopathy for carpal tunnel syndrome
If you think you may have CTS – or any other painful condition affecting your wrists and hands – our knowledgeable and friendly osteopaths are here to help.
They will perform a full assessment to confirm the problem or give you an alternative diagnosis.
A thorough evaluation can elucidate all the areas where osteopathic treatment will help alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
And beyond the treatment room, they can advise you on stretches, exercises and self-help measures to ensure you heal as quickly as possible.
Book today and start your path to recovery.