That’s a very good question. The first thing we need to do is figure out what is causing your symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome results from pressure on the median nerve that runs through the carpal tunnel of the wrist. If the medial nerve is compressed or irritated it can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness. Symptoms typically arise from repetitive activities such as typing, assembly line work, using certain hand tools, or playing sports like racquetball, etc. Swelling around the median nerve can bring about symptoms as well. If this doesn’t sound like the cause of your symptoms or you feel like the pain and numbness is coming from elsewhere, we need to look for another cause.
Many people can have nerve irritation from arthritis or degenerative discs in their neck that can compress spinal nerves as they exit the spinal cord in that area. Pain and numbness can travel all the way from the neck into the hand and fingers in this situation. Tight muscles in the shoulder or forearm can also cause carpal tunnel-like symptoms when the median nerve is compressed. If the main cause of your symptoms stems from your neck or forearm, getting carpal tunnel surgery will likely not provide long-term relief of your discomfort. Chiropractic care is a great conservative option for treating spinal and shoulder conditions that may be the real cause of your carpal tunnel symptoms before you go under the knife.
