Doctors of Osteo - Osteopath Hawthorn | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

Carpal Tunnel is a condition of the wrist that presents as pain, numbness, tingling or weakness of the hand.

Doctors of Osteo | Osteopathic Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful disorder of the hand caused by pressure on nerves that run through the wrist. Doctors of Osteo, Osteopath Hawthorn clinic has non-surgical techniques to treat this condition, including manual therapy, joint manipulation, exercise and stretches which can help with pain management as well as rehabilitation exercises for damaged hands.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel is a condition of the wrist that presents as pain, numbness, tingling or weakness of the hand - primarily in the thumb and first three fingers. You may find trouble gripping certain objects, feeling ‘clumsy’ with that hand or it may wake you at night.

Osteopath Hawthorn | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

How Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occur?

The symptoms of carpal tunnel occur when the median nerve (see above), which travels through the wrist and supplies sensation to the hand, gets entrapped or inflamed. The entrapment usually occurs due to swelling of the tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel, as well as inflammation of the transverse carpal ligament (see above) which holds all the structures that run through the tunnel in place.

The swelling usually occurs due to a few things: first, its tendons that pass through this area get swollen then if inflammation sets in too. This will cause pain when you move certain parts of your fingers for example pointing though writing with one hand may become difficult at times because there won't be any feeling from pressure on different levels

Why does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occur?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that can affect the hands. When there is too much pressure on one of its nerves, the carpal tunnel will swell and crowd out other parts of it as well including pain near where you would feel numbness or tingly sensations in your hand(s).

Here are a few other reasons why Carpal Tunnel occurs:

Repetitive strain: If you perform a repetitive task such as hammering for hours on end, this increases your risk of inflammation of the tendons that travel through the area.
Family History: If someone in your immediate family has experienced Carpal Tunnel, you are at an increased risk of developing it in the future.
Ergonomics (Desk set-up): If your home or work office isn’t set up correctly, this can lead to awkward hand and wrist positions.
Pregnancy: Water retention is a common symptom during pregnancy and when retention is in the hands/wrist, it can compress the median nerve running through the carpal tunnel, causing symptoms.
Comorbidities: Having other health conditions such as autoimmune disorders, gout, hypertension, obesity and many more.
Lifestyle factors: Certain habits such as smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, working on an assembly line work, and a high salt-intake can all increase your risk.

What are the treatment options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Home management - Carpal tunnel is often successfully treated with conservative methods which include:

Rest: Avoiding the aggravating factors, to the best of your ability, will allow time for the inflammation to clear.
Splinting and bracing: There are many different types of splints/braces for carpal tunnel. Many can be worn overnight to avoid waking at night with numbness of the hand and fingers and compromising your hand position while you sleep. Others are worn during workdays to encourage a neutral wrist position to avoid reaggravation.
Medication: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce the inflammation in the area, decompressing the trapped nerve. (Always discuss medications with your general practitioner)
Steroid Injection: A steroid injection such as cortisone may be suggested by your doctor. This is usually performed if the condition is not responding to more conservative methods and before surgery is suggested.

Can I have surgery for Carpal Tunnel?

Surgery is most often recommended when more conservative methods and corticosteroid injections have failed to relieve the symptoms of pain, hand numbness, weakness and tingling. Prior to surgery your osteopath and general practitioner may refer you off for imaging to assess the severity and progression of the condition. The surgery is referred to as a ‘carpal tunnel release’, with the goal of increasing space within the tunnel, allowing room for the nerve to glide freely.

Physical Therapy and Osteopathy for the treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons released guidelines in 2008 for the treatment and management of carpal tunnel where they stated that conservative methods, such as manual therapy, should be implemented before resorting to surgery.
Your osteopath will be able to help you identify the actions in your day-to-day life, which may be contributing to your condition.
Specific soft tissue, joint manipulation and adjunct treatment techniques are just some of the therapies that can be implemented during your 45min appointment to promote tissue healing and fluid movement.
Exercises and stretches are always important to strengthen the supporting muscles and loosen the overactive structures. Here are a few we recommend:
- Wrist stretch: With your uninjured hand, help bend your wrist to the end-range of flexion and extension, holding for 15-30 seconds and repeating 2-3 times.
- Tendon Glide: Bend your fingers slowly until the tips of your fingers are touching your palm. Hold this position for 2-3 seconds then release. Repeat this 20 times.
- Weighted wrist extension: Holding a lightweight or can of soup/beans in a neutral/ straight position, extend your wrist backwards holding for 2 seconds then returning to neutral. Repeat this 15 times and complete 2 sets.

Carpal tunnel can be inconvenient and painful. Fortunately, there's a variety of quality osteopathic treatments available to make the symptoms gradually go away and significantly improve your life. Let Osteo Hawthorn of Doctors of Osteo help with our quality osteopathic treatments.

Get Osteopathic treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Doctors of Osteo

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that is commonly known to be treated with surgery. But if you want a non-surgical solution for this condition, Doctors of Osteo can help you identify and provide you with a holistic approach to alleviate the pain.