Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Sick of that numbness and tingling in your hands with repetitive activities? It might be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Here is what you can do.
Carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a painful common condition of the hand where there is pressure on the median nerve as it runs within the carpel tunnel of the wrist. The carpel tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of your wrist that is made up of your ‘carpel’ bones and ligaments.
The main symptoms include:
- Numbness and tingling in the hand
- A dull and aching pain in the hand or wrist. Usually the areas supplied by the median nerve, so the first and 2nd fingers however it is not always ‘text book’ symptoms. It can affect the whole hand.
- Can be associated with weakness or the feeling of clumsiness
- Pain in often worse at night
- Relief may come from changing hand positions or shaking the hand.
What are the causes and risk factors?
- Repetitive actions of the wrist, manual work.
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism,
- Obesity,
- Past wrist fracture
Osteopathy and CTS
Osteopathy can provide a conservative treatment option for CTS by:
- Our osteopaths will provide a full assessment and diagnosis
- Advise on rest and possible splinting. Discuss referral options if splinting is needed
- Osteopathic techniques like soft tissues, joint mobilization and stretching can help reduce muscle tension around the hand and wrist.
- Osteopathic treatment may help promote blood flow and lymphatic drainage to help reduce local inflammation and irritation.
- Prescribe some basic exercises to help with hand and wrist strength
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