Carpal Tunnel Treatment in Knoxville

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the entrapment or compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a narrow tunnel that is formed by the bones and ligaments of the wrist that when compressed can cause a variety of different symptoms. Having this condition can affect your daily activities - especially work, Knoxville Spine and Sports can help provide carpal tunnel syndrome treatment in Knoxville.

Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

Numbness and Tingling

Numbness and tingling are generally present in the fingers and hands which can be constant or intermittent but generally increases with sustained pressure to the palmar surface of the wrist.  The numbness and tingling are most present in the thumb, index, and middle finger.  This sensation may travel up towards your elbow too and is most commonly caused by computer work, gripping activities, or holding the top of a steering wheel.

Hand weakness

Weakness is another symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome that is caused by compression of the median nerve to the muscles that control gripping and other thumb and finger motions.  Often the muscles of one hand look atrophied or will have less tone if the medial nerve compression has been present for an extended time.

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Generally, there is not one single cause of carpal tunnel syndrome.  Any sustained, constant pressure on the median can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.  People who do a lot of computer work are at risk due to pressure on the wrist from a desk or table as the person is using the keyboard or mouse.

Wrist fractures or wrist surgery can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome due to changes in the wrist anatomy and scar tissue formation which results in a narrowing of the carpal tunnel.

Who Is Likey at Risk?

• Anatomic factors such as fractures or smaller wrist sizes for example females are more likely to have carpal tunnel syndrome than males.
• Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis increase the possibility of CTS.
• Obesity or body fluid changes/retentions.
• Environmental factors such as workstations or activities at work such as excessive computer work.

Prevention Tips

Anything to minimize stress or compression on the wrist will reduce the risk of CTS. Reduce the force on your wrist, change your workstation to decrease pressure on the wrist, take frequent breaks and stretch the forearm, improve posture, and if these home remedies do not help seek out a health care provider for treatment and ideas to help decrease the risk of CTS.

Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Non-Invasive Procedures

Several non-surgical options can address carpal tunnel syndrome.

1. You may try anti-inflammatory medication to reduce inflammation around the median nerve.
2. Cold laser, dry needling, and acoustic shockwave are other modalities aimed at decreasing inflammation and stimulating healing to decrease symptoms caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Consult with a physical therapist or chiropractor who can decrease joint and soft tissue restrictions in the wrist to decrease stress around the carpal tunnel to decrease tension on the median nerve.
3. Wrist splinting is another option to aid in the ergonomics of the wrist during activity to decrease stress on the carpal tunnel.  You may need to wear the wrist at work to assist with keeping your wrist in a neutral position or at night while you sleep if your symptoms are worse in the morning.

If none of these treatment options help, you may need to undergo surgery to release some structures that are causing the entrapment of the median nerve.

Seek No Further than Knoxville Spine & Sports

If you are experiencing these symptoms and feel like you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, you should seek out your local Knoxville chiropractor to see what options are available to you for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment in Knoxville. You can call Knoxville Spine and Sports at (865) 229-8796 to set up your initial evaluation today or fill out our online forms.