Carpal Tunnel - One patient's story

Great question from a patient this week: "if it's my wrist and fingers that hurt, how come my elbow is the problem?"

I was encouraging this patient that her carpal tunnel symptoms can be caused by more than just tightness at the wrist.  The carpal tunnel is located near the wrist:

The median nerve is commonly responsible for these symptoms--but surprisingly, the carpal tunnel is not usually the problem!  The median nerve begins in the upper arm near the biceps and has multiple locations it can be irritated, inflamed, and entrapped.  The most common location is as it crosses the elbow and weaves dives between multiple muscles that control the forearm and wrist.

Individuals who sit at a desk for multiple hours in a day or work with repeating motions in their hands and arms are particularly at risk for carpal tunnel symptoms.  Athletes in tennis, golf, and throwing sports also experience irritation in the carpal tunnel.

For the patient this week, she types for 6 hours/day for work and likes to bowl twice/week.  When examined, her symptoms all appeared when testing muscles that control her elbow.  After 3 treatments, she no longer has the numbness, tingling, and swelling she had experienced in her hand/wrist.

At home, you can help prevent carpal tunnel irritation--especially if you have a job that requires repetitive motion or long-term holding of your hands at a computer:

• take regular breaks--Stand up 3 times/hr, roll your shoulders back and let your arms fall back
• do 3 snow angel movements, keeping your hands open and rolling your thumbs backward
• extend your wrists, elbows, and arms while taking 3 slow deep breaths
• gently move and lightly stretch your palms, wrists, and forearms

This should take 30 seconds and potentially save you from painful surgery and lengthy healing time.  If you do have carpal tunnel symptoms, seek a physician who is able to properly diagnose the problem.  Consider conservative treatment that looks at the entire median nerve, not just the Carpal Tunnel.