Health & Wellbeing

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME OR CTS

is a common problem that can cause pain, numbness, pins and needles, inflammation and weakness in the hands and wrists. It occurs when the median nerve - which runs into the palm of the hand from the forearm, becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist. Symptoms can often be most prevalent at night or wake people early in the morning. They are often relieved by shaking or moving the hands and wrists around. It is thought that certain conditions and genetics may increase the risk of developing it, however in most cases it isn’t known why the nerve becomes compressed. Women are 3 X more likely to be affected than men. It is not uncommon for a woman to develop this during pregnancy or shortly thereafter due to fluid retention in the arms from hormonal changes. This may similarly occur around the time of the menopause when hormone levels change. Systemic conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause swelling in the wrist and nerve damage respectively. Additionally, people who work on computers and use a keyboard/ mouse regularly tend to develop carpal tunnel syndrome at an increased frequency. Some good news – there are multiple osteopathic techniques that can be used which may help relieve those uncomfortable symptoms. Osteopaths will try to understand the systemic cause or causes of the problem before applying the appropriate treatment. They will start by looking at the course of the nerve, from where it starts in the neck, through the arm and down into the hand. We would assess to see where the nerve’s function may have been compromised and what structures could be causing this. Compression reduced joint mobility and muscular tension can affect the circulation in the arm, which may lead to poor nerve conduction. Once the contributing factors have been established, osteopaths will treat and manage them accordingly. The focus is to reduce symptoms and improve overall function in the short term, and then offer advice and specific exercises to help manage your symptoms l If you have wrist or hand pain and think you may be suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it may be worth seeking an osteopathic opinion first. If Osteopathic treatment does not improve symptoms, your Doctor may refer you for neurological assessment and there are further options available. I hope you find this useful.

Chris Heywood. Osteopath Bramhall Osteopathic Practice www.bramhallosteopaths.co.uk