Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a health condition that happens when an important nerve to the hand gets squeezed and irritated. It can affect adults of any age, and often causes problems with a person’s wrist, hand and fingers. Do you wonder if you might have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Read more to find out.

The nerve that is involved with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is in many ways like a long electrical wire that stretches from your neck the whole way down your arm into your hand. If this nerve gets pinched and irritated as it travels through the wrist and into the hand, a person can experience a range of symptoms. To see if you have the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I have numbness, tingling, or pain in my forearm, wrist, hand, palm, or fingers (especially in my thumb and pointer finger)?
2. Is my grip losing strength? For example, is it becoming more difficult for me to open jar lids and do other tasks with my hands?
3. Is my hand becoming clumsier? For example, is it getting harder to do detailed tasks with my fingers, and am I dropping objects more frequently?
4. Does my hand and arm bother me more at night than at any other time?

This disorder can be caused by repeating the same activities over and over with your hands and arms. If you participate in the following professions or activities, you are at greater risk for developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: assembly line workers, computer operators, data entry workers, musicians, housewives, grocery clerks, locksmiths, electricians, teachers, hairdressers, chefs, office assistants, athletes, dog groomers, and artists. Other factors that can contribute to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include keeping your hand at an awkward angle, having to maintain a strong grip for long periods, or sleeping on your side with your arm positioned under your head.

Another thing to consider is if you regularly take part in the following activities: keyboarding, computer mouse use, using a numeric keypad, painting, using a screwdriver, playing a musical instrument, cleaning floors, handling objects on conveyor belts, sorting and filing paperwork, kneading dough, cake decorating, gardening, or texting.

Did any of the above seem to describe you? If you have some of the symptoms that were mentioned and also take part in activities that involve repetitive hand and arm motions, there is a good chance that you may have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Your next step would be to visit your chiropractor or family doctor to receive an exact diagnosis. The earlier you are accurately diagnosed, the more treatment options are available. Traditional medical treatment often involves medication and surgery and only focuses on the wrist rather than looking at the entire arm. Chiropractic, massage therapy, and acupuncture provide a more natural form of treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by relieving the cause of the nerve irritation rather than attempting to cover up its painful symptoms with medication.

Once you’ve received your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome diagnosis, it’s important to begin a treatment regimen sooner rather than later, to provide yourself every opportunity for permanent pain relief and the chance to get back to enjoying life again.

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