Repetitive Injuries/Carpal Tunnel

With our constant use of computers/phones and other devices, injuries at home and at work are changing.  More and more, people are being diagnosed and treated for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other overuse related injuries.

Where is the Carpal Tunnel?  On the palm side of your wrist, we all have a little tunnel under the fascia through which passes nine tendons and the Median nerve.  When we keep our wrist flexed (in a downward position) for long periods of time, like we do during typing, the forearm muscles that attach to the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel are in a constant flexed/tightened or engaged position.  This can cause inflammation in the carpal tunnel which ends up putting pressure on that median nerve.  Once undue pressure is put on the nerve, you begin to experience symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the hand and wrist.  These symptoms can be extremely disabling or painful or barely noticeable depending on how inflamed your tunnel is and how much pressure is being put on that nerve.

What can you do if you experience these symptoms?  The first thing is to stop or decrease the offending activity.  If excess typing is causing the problem and you are able to slow down or spread it out, do that for your body.  You also want to stretch the affected muscles.  Stretching allows the muscles in your forearm to relax and helps decrease the inflammation present.  Another option is to wear a brace to help keep your wrist in a neutral position.  This is often especially helpful at night, while sleeping.  The added time for your forearm muscles in neutral really helps them to relax for hours during the night which decreases the hypertonicity and inflammation along the tendons through the tunnel.

Chiropractors are great at helping you relieve your symptoms and re-establishing a better neutral position.  Ultrasound, Electrical Muscle Stimulation and hands on stretching/myofascial release and joint function improvement are just some of the modalities and therapies used that are extremely beneficial  in helping you correct the damage caused by these repetitive injuries.

If you find your fingers tingling after typing/using a screwdriver/hammer or other forearm-heavy activities, you may be suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  Don’t wait for it to go away, get some help immediately so you don’t have to suffer anymore.

Dr. Melissa Wilke practices in Geneva, IL where she “gives you the tools, to love the body you live in”.