Carpal tunnel syndrome affects millions of people each and every year. More often then not it’s the result of work related or repetitive stress injury. But what if you’ve been affected with it in both your extremities? This is often termed bilateral carpal tunnel.
While it is certainly possible to be affected by two isolated events that trigger such a condition in many cases there is something more going on here. As a chiropractor with extensive knowledge of physical rehabilitation in addition to spinal disorders I often take a more comprehensive and complete approach to evaluating these types of conditions.
I’ve began noticing something very common amongst these population groups. Many of them work on the computer for hours a day with poor, slouched and slumped postures as they slave over their monitors and keyboard for countless hours a day.
As the day progresses and our neuromuscular systems begin to tire and fatigue our posture deforms more so and the inactivity of the muscular support network leads to increased stress, strain and wear on the spine and it’s soft tissues. In most cases this leads to an increased kyphosis – rounded, slouched shoulders and an increased prominence of the thoracic spine or mid back.
In addition the head always draws forward over the shoulders leading to what is termed forward head posture or FHP. All these mechanical changes lead to disruptive changes in the muscles and change their ideal resting lengths putting them at a mechanical disadvantage. Because all the nerves that lead to and innervate the wrist and carpal tunnel area arise from spinal origin one can’t simply ignore this.
Your body has an amazing ability to adapt when degenerative changes occur slowly over time. This is because with slow progressing changes the body has time to react. However, at some point we reach what is termed ‘limitations of matter’ and the body loses it’s capacity to adapt. This is usually when pain arises. It’s important to understand, though, that pain is the last thing to appear and always the first thing to leave. The condition may well remain even after the pain has resolved.
Why is this important and what does any of this have to do with carpal tunnel syndrome or wrist pain?!
Well, it’s quite simple. If the nerve has been compromises at the spine it is more likely to suffer a ‘double crush’ syndrome which may very well mimic classical carpal tunnel syndrome. And, if you’re suffering with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome it’s even more likely. One simply can’t ignore the possibility of a central origin, closer to the spine, where both nerves may be affected as a result of a degenerative disc or arthritic changes in the spine.
Addressing both the peripheral and central components of this type of presentation will not only yield quicker relief but also long lasting resolution to your pain and symptoms.
A combination of chiropractic care, massage, physical therapy and cold laser therapy may be necessary to provide long term relief and prevention.