What is Carpal Tunnel?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand that houses and protects tendons and the median nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an overuse condition in which pressure is put on that nerve, which controls movement and feeling in the thumb and the fingers. The trauma can also cause the tendons to become inflamed. The condition affects hundreds of thousands of individuals, including many athletes.
How It Happens
Although the exact cause varies from person to person, a combination of factors can increase pressure on the median nerve and tendons.
A naturally small carpal tunnel
In some people, the carpal tunnel is smaller than in others, which makes the nerve inside more susceptible to pressure caused by repetitive movements or swelling brought on by a fracture or sprain.
Repetition of hand movement
In others, the size of the tunnel is normal, but the same kinds of outside forces, primarily swelling, can put pressure on the nerve, causing a variety of painful and debilitating symptoms. Spending long days at the office typing away at your computer is a common cause. In sports, gripping a tennis racquet, golf club, or baseball bat repeatedly can all result in pain.
Related Conditions:
The overlooked contributor “Pronator Teres Syndrome”
Pronator teres syndrome is a compression of the median nerve at the elbow. This is the same nerve invovled with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but the compression occurs in the elbow rather than the wrist. This compression of the median nerve in the region of the elbow or proximal part of the forearm can cause pain and/or numbness in the distribution of the distal median nerve. There is often a weakness of abduction of the thumb in the plane at a right angle to the palm, reflecting the involvement of the unbranched portion of the median nerve. The long flexor muscles of the thumb, index and finger are often weak as well, leading to impairment of a pincer movement of the fingers. The most common cause is entrapment of the median nerve between the two heads of the pronator teres muscle.
Questions to be Answered on Your First Visit
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Is it the fascia, carpal sheath, or muscles?
-Is it postural or joint misalignment?
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Is the nerve trapped anywhere from the neck, shoulder, arm, wrist, or hand?
-Are there exercises or things YOU can do to feel better?
Dr. Plutchok’s Approach is Different
No Drugs, No Surgery, No Night Splints, No Cortizone Shots
Dr. Plutchok uses 3 unique techniques to help relieve you of any pain you may currently be experiencing: Active Release Technique, Quantum Neurology Rehabilitation, and rehabilitative exercises
