Do I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
One of the most painful and activity limiting conditions is carpal tunnel sydrome (CTS). Women tend to suffer from it more than men, but it can affect anyone at any age. The chronic effects are clear, but how do you know you have carpal tunnel syndrome, or if it's simply a side effect of something else?
CTS affects the median nerve. Basically what happens is it is compressed as it passes through the wrist. This nerve travels a long way before it even reaches the wrist, starting out of the neck and down the arm. If this nerve is pinched or affected anywhere, then this can cause symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Other effects could be tingling, numbness and even weakness if the pinch is tight enough. It could even be pinched at multiple points. This means you should be checked by a doctor or chiropractor.
However, pinching of the median nerve isn't the only cause of symptomes of CTS. Here's a few more common conditions that can be confused with it.
1) Ulnar Neuropathy
The ulnar nerve can also get pinched and this can cause similar numbness and tingling, however this normally affects the fourth and fifth fingers of the pinky side. This pinch is typically at the neck or inner elbow. It is known as Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (CuTS).
2) Tendonitis
There are multiple tendons in the hand that help us grip and open it. If any one of these are strained then these can give off the impression of CTS with the exception of there is normally no numbness or tingling
3) DeQuervain’s Disease
This is really a tendonitis of an extensor tendon of the thumb and its synovial sheath that lubricates it resulting in a “tenosynovitis.” Essentially, this means that whenever you move your thumb, you will experience pain.
So there are several conditions that may resemble or copy some of the symptoms of CTS, but they lack the rest of the conditions required for a CTS problem.
This is why it is essential for you to visit your chiropractor as they are well trained to identify and treat or even refer the right condition. Doing this will help you to get on with your life as soon as possible.