Carpal Tunnel Syndrome… Avoid Surgery and those high Costs!
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is considered the most common overuse condition in the world. It is often caused from repetitive movement either on the computer, playing the drums, or another occupation that causes the wrist to be bent/flexed down for long periods. Over time, one can develop numbness, tingling, and loss of function in your daily activities in one’s hand. This creates difficulty performing basic tasks such as typing, grasping and opening jars, and holding/squeezing objects due to the weakness created by compression of your carpal tunnel. Often, orthopedic surgeons want to resort to surgery to fix the problem, but the only problem is is that it only works in about 50% of all surgical cases. The rehab and surgical costs are over 95% higher compared to conservative measures, such as chiropractic care.
If you are considering visiting a chiropractor to treat this conservatively, he/she must perform a thorough exam to determine what tissue (s) are affected. Chiropractors with experience in treating this can help to hopefully reduce symptoms within just a few short weeks of treatment if properly identified. Chiropractors specializing in Active Release Technique (ART) can further help CTS to reduce scar tissue caused from the overuse and repetitive movement to the wrist and lower forearm muscles to help reduce one’s symptoms and to improve one’s function. Also, chiropractic manipulation to the wrist is utilized to help improve one’s alignment, causing less compression of the nerve from the muscles and tendons that go into the wrist. Lastly, corrective/rehab exercises are given to the patient to provide relief. These exercises will aid in the recovery and are critical that your chiropractor reviews these with you to ensure proper form for relief.
Because the surgical cost and subsequent rehab are so high , it is necessary to consider conservative measures as chiropractic care to help one alleviate CTS and its possible debilitating impact on one’s life, both at work and at home.
You make the call, but it’s your health!
Lincoln Park Chiropractic Brian Marion, DC, CCSP, ART, CKTP
2202 N. Lincoln Ave Suite 1 Chicago, IL 60614 773) 248-2790