Carpal Tunnel Symptoms and Cervical Disc Herniations

San Francisco Carpal Tunnel Doctor Comments:

We have been helping patients with carpal tunnel symptoms for many years now in downtown San Francisco. We have also successfully treated our fair share of cervical disc herniations.

In fact...some of the patients with carpal tunnel symptoms also had herniated discs in the neck.

Is there a connection between carpal tunnel symptoms and cervical disc herniations?

Great question...and the answer is YES. Here's how they are connected:

The nerves that exit from in between the bones in the lower part of the neck travel down the arm and into the hands. These cervical nerves are prone to pressure from herniated and bulging discs in the neck as they branch off the spinal cord.

When there is pressure on a cervical nerve root it can cause problems at the target cells...in this case the hands. Symptoms like hand pain, numbness and tingling in the hands, burning, weakness, loss of grip strength, and night pain are classic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms.

CTS occurs when there is pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel...an opening in the bend of the wrist. The median nerve is one of the branches of nerves that originates in the neck.

So how can I tell if my carpal tunnel symptoms are from the neck or hand?

It's really hard sometimes to make this determination yourself...it's best to see a carpal tunnel expert...a doctor that treats lots of CTS, like we do at Executive Express Chiropractic in the SF Financial District.

Honestly...true CTS is rare...but CTS symptoms are common and are usually the result of pressure on the cervical nerves from misaligned vertebrae (Subluxations), tight muscles, degenerated discs, bulging discs, and cervical disc herniations.

I know it sounds complicated, but it's not...and neither is the treatment. Sometimes we can fix a problem in a few sessions...sometimes it takes months...it just depends on the severity.

Sometimes we can't help at all...but that's rare. The moral of the story is to go see someone that treats CTS day in and day out...it will be worth the effort (sometimes an expert is hard to find).

If you have CTS symptoms and would like to find out if you are a candidate for care at Executive Express Chiropracticat the SF Embarcadero Center...call 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online.

 

Comments

[Lynnwood Wrist Pain]

Can't agree with you more! I find in Seattle the same is true. If I can get a hold of a wrist and begin moving the carpal joints BEFORE there is a BIG problem, the faster the wrist heals, without nerve inflammation.

[Natalie S]

What is the average time frame from the onset of injury; disc herniation of neck to symptom onset of the carpel tunnel syndrome?

[Dr. Eben Davis]

it can happen all at once from a trauma...but this is rare. it's usually slow developing. all cases are different. in reality, there is no way to know for sure how long a disc herniation has been there unless you have repeat MRI studies. you can tell how long spinal degeneration has been developing (from x-ray) and draw the conclusion that the disc herniation is connected to it...but in reality the smart thing to do is focus on how to help it...and chiropractic is a good place to start. the symptoms in the hand typically come after a disc herniation has been there for years. hope this helps. dr. davis