You use your hands for everything from everyday responsibilities to your favorite hobbies. When you begin experiencing hand and wrist pain, you may think that simple wrist stretches can alleviate your discomfort. However, there is a chance that this won’t be sufficient to deliver the relief you’ve been looking for, and you may deal with chronic hand problems.
The last thing you’re thinking about when dealing with hand pain is your neck, but its alignment may be causing quite a bit of your discomfort. But how are your wrist and hand connected, and what can be done to address the root of the problem? In many cases, an expert chiropractor can deliver the relief you deserve.
In this blog, we’ll explore the connection between neck alignment and hand pain, and how your chiropractor can help you alleviate chronic carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Can You Reverse It Naturally?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel in your wrist is compressed. Individuals with the condition often experience numbness, tingling, and weakness in their hand and wrist. While there isn’t one exact cause of the condition, there are a few common risk factors and associated conditions, including:
- Anatomy: Individuals with a smaller carpal tunnel may be more susceptible to compression of the nerves.
- Repeat Motion: Repetitive hand and wrist movements like typing and using vibrating tools can irritate your tendons and swell the carpal tunnel.
- Health Conditions: Some conditions, like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, obesity, and fluid retention can increase pressure on the tunnel.
- Pregnancy: Hormone changes and fluid buildup during pregnancy can add strain on the tunnel, leading to frequent hand pain, tingling, and numbness.
The condition can be healed naturally. However, it must be caught in its earliest stages to deliver lasting relief. As soon as symptoms emerge, consider wearing a wrist splint, performing nerve and tendon glides, and icing 15 minutes at a time to calm any inflammation, and make ergonomic adjustments to protect yourself.
How is Your Hand Pain Related to Neck Alignment?
So, how is your chronic carpal tunnel syndrome and resulting hand pain related to your neck alignment? Your hand pain is often linked to your neck through a condition called Double Crush Syndrome. This occurs when a nerve is compressed at multiple points along its path, like in the neck and at the wrist or elbow.
When your nerves are pinched as they exit your spinal column, they become hypersensitive. This hypersensitivity makes you more vulnerable to secondary pressure further down your arm. This can exacerbate the pain, numbness, and tingling you experience as a result of carpal tunnel syndrome, leading to more significant discomfort.
If your hand pain is the result of Double Crush Syndrome, it is unlikely that simply treating your wrist pain will yield positive results. The pain will continue to radiate from your neck through your arm, where it results in chronic pain in your hand or wrist. That’s why it’s important to treat your neck and wrist pain together.
How a Chiropractor Can Treat Double Crush Syndrome
While you may want to treat your carpal tunnel naturally at home, individuals who are experiencing neck and hand pain as a result of Double Crush Syndrome may need more hands on support. That’s where a trusted chiropractor comes in. If you can’t find relief on your own, they can help you alleviate your discomfort.
They will treat this discomfort by combining several techniques, including spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and postural retraining.
- Spinal Adjustments: The spine is realigned to decompress the nerve root exiting the spinal cord, eliminating the first point of pain.
- Soft Tissue Therapy: Deep tissue massage and myofascial release releases tight muscles and fascia that squeeze along the nerve pathway.
- Postural Retraining: Your chiropractor will help address posture problems and offer ergonomic advice to prevent repeat injuries.
Signs Your Neck May Be Contributing to Your Carpal Tunnel Symptoms
If you are struggling to find relief from your carpal tunnel syndrome on your own, you may believe you are experiencing Double Crush Syndrome. But how can you be certain that your wrist and hand pain is a result of this connection? If you are experiencing any of the following in addition to your carpal tunnel syndrome, this may point to potential Double Crush Syndrome:
- Pain that isn’t limited to the hand and wrist, and instead radiates down the arm.
- Tingling and pain that worsens when you bend, turn, or tilt your head.
- Numbness and pain that reaches the ring and pinky finger.
- Tricep and bicep weakness that affects your grip and fine motor skills.
- An increase in neck stiffness, tenderness, and cervical muscle spasms.
When to See a Chiropractor for Persistent Hand and Wrist Pain
Although you may believe your wrist and hand pain is related to Double Crush Syndrome, you may be on the fence about visiting the chiropractor. While it may be okay to put off care for a day or two, it is important that you seek professional care if your pain persists for more than a few days, disrupts your sleep, or is accompanied by weakness, tingling, and numbness.
Choosing to put off professional care can allow your symptoms to become much worse, compromising your comfort and increasing your risk of developing chronic pain. While it can be tempting to ride out your pain, it is always in your best interest to reach out to a trusted chiropractor if you can’t find relief on your own.
Turn to Muscle & Joint Chiropractic For Support Today
Dealing with chronic neck, wrist, and hand pain can make it difficult to perform everyday responsibilities. However, with the support of our team at Muscle & Joint Chiropractic, you can find the lasting relief you deserve. We understand firsthand just how important it is to alleviate pain as soon as it emerges. But more so, we want you to find a relief option that prevents you from dealing with recurring problems. When you partner with our team, we will craft a custom treatment plan to help address the immediate problem and reduce your risk of repeat injuries.
If you’ve been dealing with hand pain and believe you may be experiencing Double Crush Syndrome, contact us today to schedule an appointment.