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Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Do you experience numbness and tingling in your hand?
Maybe you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Read on to find out more!
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal tunnel itself is a structure formed from your hand bones (Carpals) that create a passageway (Tunnel) for tendons for the forearm muscles and a nerve called the median nerve to pass through. The roof of the tunnel is made from a ligament called the transverse carpal ligament.
The syndrome and symptoms occur when there is compression of the median nerve within this tunnel at the wrist.
Who gets carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel symptoms are commonly seen in people who regularly use their forearm muscles and hands or who are carrying additional fluid in the hands and wrist. This includes tradies, desk workers and manual therapists such as osteopaths. It’s also a common presentation during pregnancy due to the additional fluid carried by the body.
Our business owner Mirae has experienced carpal tunnel syndrome during both her pregnancies. This certainly doesn’t make it easy to treat her clients using her hands all day! Thankfully it’s only a pregnancy symptom for her, but unfortunately this is not the case for all of our clients presenting with this.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
Common symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include;
- Numbness, pain or a change in sensation in the hand; primarily in the thumb, index, middle finger and half of the ring finger.
- May find yourself feeling more clumsy with your hand due to related weakness
- Symptoms may be worse at night
- Symptoms may improve when ‘shaking out’ your hand
Does this sound like you?
If the above symptoms sound like something you are experiencing then rest assured, our team of osteopaths have seen it all before and can help with treatment and advice to manage your symptoms.
How to treat and manage Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Conservative treatment and management is recommended with early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. Your osteopath can provide you with a number of treatment and management options, such as;
- Assessment to confirm diagnosis
- Hands on treatment to your wrist, hand, forearm and any other areas contributing to the symptoms
- Education to help prevent your symptoms - such as ergonomic set up for your office space or guidance on break periods during your work day
- Provide a personalised exercise rehabilitation program
- Advise on additional interventions such as a wrist splint or bracing as required
In severe cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as those with contributing factors that we can’t remove, we occasionally do have to refer clients for a second opinion if we can’t get the symptoms under control. If this is the case, rest assured that we have a network of trusted surgeons or sports medicine doctors we can refer you on to as needed.
Ready to get started on your journey to resolving carpal tunnel syndrome?
Book online to see our osteopaths for an appointment today or call our friendly reception team.
