Monday, October 24, 2011

When Is a Wrist Pain Not a Wrist Problem?

When Is a Wrist Pain Not a Wrist Problem?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is often helped with chiropractic care.
Sometimes what seems painfully obvious is not actually correct. Take a pain in your wrist. The problem must be in your wrist, right?
Not always. There can be nerve interference elsewhere that is causing or adding to that pain.

Carpal Tunnel

Let’s look at carpal tunnel syndrome. Feel along the back of your wrist for the carpals, those eight small bones grouped in two rows. Held together with ligaments, they form a “tunnel” or passageway for your median nerve. When swelling narrows the tunnel, the nerve gets compressed and causes pain, tingling and more.
But pain, numbness or tingling in the wrist also can be caused by nerve interference elsewhere, a phenomenon called the “double crush.” In this scenario, the median and other nerves running through the wrist are being compressed but the compression sites might also be in the spine, shoulder, neck or elbow.

Can Chiropractic Help?

Resolving carpal tunnel problems requires looking beyond the wrist. A thorough chiropractic examination of the upper spine, shoulder and elbow can help determine the origins of your problems.
Try these simple self-tests to check if your wrist pain has neurological involvement. If your findings suggest further evaluation, give us a call to schedule a more thorough examination!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

What Is a “Pinched” Nerve?

 Like an open window, nerve openings along your spine must be clear and unobstructed.

It’s called a pinched nerve because that’s what it feels like. But there’s a lot more going on!

The 24 moving bones of your spine protect your spinal cord while permitting normal turning and bending. Pairs of nerve roots, one on each side, branch off your spinal cord at each segmental level to service the organs and tissues of your body. When these openings are obstructed, even slightly, your brain can’t properly control and regulate your body.
When a spinal bone is malpositioned, it can encroach upon these important nerve openings. Nerve irritation can result. We call that a vertebral subluxation.

Two Types

When spinal bones lose their normal motion or position, it can cause one of two types of nerve disturbances:
  • Compressed lesion – This is just a fancy name for a pinched nerve. What surprises many is that it’s actually quite rare. More common is a…
  • Facilitative lesion – This is when the nerve root is stretched, twisted or chafed. Think: hard tissue rubbing on soft tissue.
But remember, bones are static structures. They don’t move unless muscles move them. And muscles don’t move bones unless commanded by the nervous system. An irritated nerve creates a vicious loop. Our job is to locate these areas of your spine and reduce their impact on your nervous system.

A Precise Nudge

A thorough examination helps us identify areas of your spine where spinal bones are stuck and not moving correctly. Then, we give them a precise little nudge called a chiropractic adjustment. Your body uses this energy to “right itself” as nerve irritation is reduced.
Because chiropractic addresses the integrity of your nervous system, it’s a natural solution to many health problems. Give us a call.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • How long does it take for nerve irritation to be reduced?
  • What about my friend who only needed one visit?