Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition affecting people of all ages and can have a negative impact on people's work, hobbies, and family activities. People experiencing the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome can experience periodic tingling and numbness in the hand and fingers, sometimes accompanied with pain. It is common for a person with CTS to wake up in the night with their hands "asleep." You may have symptoms act up while participating in activities that require gripping such as holding tools or fishing rods. Even holding a specific hand position or excessive typing at the office computer can aggravate the symptoms of CTS. The burden of CTS is substantial, and can even result in losses of income as high as $89,000 over a six-year period for individuals who suffer moderate to severe symptoms (Foley, Silverstein & Pollisar, 2007).

Many people believe surgery is the only option for gaining relief from carpal tunnel syndrome. This is untrue, and conservative management techniques such chiropractic in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome can be a game changer for those suffering from its effects. Here at Excellence in Health Chiropractic we use a combination of chiropractic adjustments, manual therapy, physiotherapy modalities, nutritional counseling, and specifically prescribed exercises to help people beat their symptoms and get back to living their lives fully.

The value of conservative management for CTS has been highlighted in a recent research article published in the Journal of Pain: "Manual physical therapy versus surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized parallel-group trial" (Penas et al., 2015). Researchers compared the effects of surgery to the effects of conservative management techniques in people suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. They found that conservative management, including therapies like those utilized every day by Dr. Ross and his health care team here at Excellence in Health Chiropractic, were more effective than surgery in the short term, and equal to surgery in the long term for treating people with CTS. They also found that people receiving conservative care were less likely to experience painful side effects compared to those receiving surgery.

The research article above is a great example of how manual therapy techniques, such as those provided by our skilled team here at Excellence in Health Chiropractic, can help people with carpal tunnel syndrome return to normal and healthy functioning. This study demonstrates that care such as chiropractic gets people with CTS better, and tends to do it faster than surgery. It shows that treatment carried out by a manual therapist such as a chiropractor for CTS is equal to surgery for long-term relief of symptoms and improved function. The study also shows that the types of treatment provided in our office are safer than surgery, without the worrisome and painful side effects of an invasive operation.

Don't let the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome prevent you from supporting your family or doing the things you love. Take charge of your health and get back to living the life you deserve; and as always, we wish you excellence in health.

Resources:

• Foley, M. Silverstein, B, Pollisar, N. (2007). The economic burden of carpal tunnel syndrome: long term earnings of CTS claimants in Washington State. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 50: 155-172.
• Penas, C. Ortega-Santiago, R. Llave-Rincon, A. Martinez-Perez, A. Diaz, H. Martinez-Martin, J. Pareja, J. Cuadrado-Perez, M. (2015). Manual physical therapy versus surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized parallel-group trial. The Journal of Pain. 16: 1087-1094.

Link to Abstract:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26281946/