CONDITION: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

DESCRIPTION:
The carpal tunnel is the narrow space formed by the bones of the wrist and the strong ligament that lies over them. In carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve, which controls hand muscles and conveys sensation to the hand, compresses in the carpal tunnel. This compression causes painful tingling in the hand, fingers and forearm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disorder, especially in women between the ages of 40 and 60, and often affects both hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome has been compared to tarsal tunnel syndrome, and both are often misdiagnosed. The pain experienced in the wrist or the ankle is often referred pain and may be due to an injured or weakened annular ligament in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, and injured or weakened ligaments at the ball of the foot in the case of tarsal tunnel syndrome.

How does carpal tunnel syndrome develop?
Certain conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis (particularly rheumatoid arthritis) and thyroid gland imbalance have been associated with an increased risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. The syndrome also is associated with occupations that involve repetitive hand movements such as heavy and repetitive assembly line work or keyboard work. Women are more likely to have carpal tunnel syndrome because it has been linked to pregnancy, PMS and menopause.

Unfortunately, however, many people with elbow and hand pain have been misdiagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome! Eighty percent of chronic pain in these areas is due to a sprain or weakening of the annular ligament, a ligament rarely examined by a family physician or an orthopedic surgeon.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome typically starts gradually, with a vague aching in the wrist that can extend to the hand or forearm. Other common signs and symptoms include tingling or numbness in the fingers or hand, burning in the hand, weakened grip, wasting of some hand muscles (particularly at the base of the thumb) and, in the advanced stage, a constant loss of feeling in some fingers.

Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome but they do not address the root of the problem. In addition, many of those diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome actually have annular ligament weakness! By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine therapies do, carpal tunnel syndrome pain can be alleviated permanently.

Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome and annular ligament weakness.

Learn about the treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome