Carpal Tunnel Relief in London Ontario: Understanding the Condition
Are you looking for carpal tunnel relief in London Ontario? Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common complaints of the hand. It is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side of the hand and wrist. When the median nerve gets compressed for any number of reasons, the result can include symptoms of numbness, tingling, weakness in the thumb and fingers and pain.
The pain can be so bad that it has the potential to wake you up at night. Wrist anatomy, health conditions, a wrist fracture and repetitive hand motions often contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Proper treatment usually relieves the symptoms and helps restore function.
At LifeHouse Chiropractic, we take a conservative and gentle approach to carpal tunnel relief in London Ontario. If you’re curious whether chiropractic care can help with your wrist pain, read on.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The primary symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include:
- Pain, burning, or tingling in the thumb and first three fingers.
- A sensation of swelling, even without visible signs.
- Weakness in the hand, making it difficult to grip small objects.
The impact on daily life can be substantial, and in severe cases, if Carpal Tunnel Syndrome remains untreated, it could lead to irreversible damage to the median nerve, resulting in permanent impairment of hand movement. This underscores the importance of seeking timely and effective carpal tunnel relief in London Ontario to preserve hand function, prevent long-term impairment and quality of life.
Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
There are several factors that have been linked to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome and to the need of seeking carpal tunnel relief in London Ontario. These include:
- Anatomical factors. A wrist fracture or dislocation can change the space within the carpal tunnel or arthritis can cause changes to the small bones in the wrist; these changes can put pressure on the median nerve.
- Sex assigned at birth. Carpal tunnel is generally more common in women, possibly because they may have smaller carpal tunnels then men.
- Nerve damage. Some chronic illnesses/diseases, such as diabetes, increase the risk of nerve damage, including damage to the median nerve.
Inflammatory conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other conditions that cause swelling, known as inflammation, can affect the lining around the tendons of the wrist and put pressure on the median nerve. - Medications. Some studies, for example, have shown a link between carpal tunnel syndrome and anastrozole (Arimidex), a medicine used to treat breast cancer.
- Obesity. Being obese increases your risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Fluid retention. Common during pregnancy and menopause, may increase the pressure in the carpal tunnel and irritate the median nerve.
- Other medical conditions. Certain medical conditions such as thyroid disorders, kidney failure and lymphedema, may increase the chances of experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Workplace factors. Working with vibrating tools, repetitive movements using your wrists or working at a keyboard, especially for long periods of time or when working at a computer station that is not ergonomically correct or working in a cold environment can increase pressure on the median nerve.
- Nerve irritation in the spine. Often, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, that develops in one or both wrists without a clear cause, is the result of a nerve irritation stemming from the spine.
How Chiropractic Care Offers Carpal Tunnel Relief in London Ontario
Traditional treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome has been limited to decompression surgeries, physiotherapy, medications and management of the causative factors. These options, however, fail to deal with the underlying problem, so may only provide temporary relief or may be completely ineffective. When left untreated, people then have to adapt their lifestyles to accommodate this syndrome, which may mean changing their job or needing help with activities of everyday living.
Fortunately, many people in London Ontario can find long-term relief from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome through chiropractic care. Chiropractic is a non-invasive, drug-free alternative that goes to the root of the problem.
As the chiropractor at Lifehouse, I always looks to the spine first. As part of my initial exam, I will review your health history to see if you have any risk factors, then I do a spinal exam, as well as, an exam of your wrists. If I determine you have a subluxation (spinal misalignment) as the root cause of your carpal tunnel symptoms, I will start care with spinal adjustments. Often, spinal adjustments will bring relief to the symptoms caused by carpal tunnel; if this does not resolve your issues, I am also skilled in adjusting the wrist to relieve the pressure on the median nerve.
Finding Long-Term Carpal Tunnel Relief in London Ontario
If you’re struggling with wrist pain and suspect it’s Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, chiropractic care could be the solution. At LifeHouse Chiropractic, we aim to restore function and relieve pain through conservative, effective treatment. Carpal tunnel relief in London Ontario is possible without surgery or medication. Contact us today for a comprehensive evaluation and explore how chiropractic care can help you get back to your daily activities.
