Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Nutrition Update

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition where the median nerve that arises in the neck and travels through the shoulder, arm, and into the hand becomes compressed. Compression of the median nerve results in tingling, numbness, pain and/or weakness that affects the 2nd, 3rd, and thumb-side half of the 4th fingers. It can wake sufferers up in the middle of the night, forcing them to have to shake the hand and flick the fingers to “wake it up.” This can occur multiples times a night, making for a long next day! We’ve discussed chiropractic management strategies such as manipulation/mobilization of the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, the use of a cock-up splint (especially at night and at times when driving), but more information regarding the use of nutritional supplementation is lacking; hence the purpose of this Health Update!

Let’s look at what we are trying to accomplish by nutritional approaches for CTS:

1. Anti-inflammation: Because of stomach, liver, and kidney side effects, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and others may not be your best choice. Rather, consider Turmeric (300 mcg), Ginger (100 mg), Boswellia (100 mg), Rosemary (100 mg), Bioflavonoid (100 mg), Bromelain (50 mg), Vitamin C (1-3 grams/day), Vitamin E (400 IU/day), Vitamin D3 (2000-5000 IU/day), Vitamin B-complex (especially B6, 9, and 12).
2. Muscle relaxation: Calcium (1500mg/day), Magnesium (400 mg/day), Potassium, valerian root (vervain), B-Complex, L-Arginine, Rosemary, Catnip, Kava root, Chamomile, Cayenne Pepper, Horseradish, Lavender, Licorice, Devil’s Claw.
3. Nerve repair: Folate (B9), B12 (cobalamin), Vitamin D3, B1 (Thiamin; minimum: 1.2mg/day), B5 (Pantothenic acid), B3 (niacin; minimum 16 mg/day), B12.
4. Managing systemic conditions:

a)       Diabetes (dysinsulinism): Chromium (picolinate or choloride), Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Omega-3 Fatty Acids (1000 mg of EPA & DHA), Coenzyme Q10, Polyphenols (dark chocolate, green tea), Botanicals (plant extracts such as garlic, prickly pear, aloe vera, fenugreek, bitter melon and ginseng).

b)      Thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroid): B-Complex (100 mg of B1, 3, 5, & 6 3x/day; B2, 50 mg 2x/day; B12 1000-2000 mcg/day; Selenium and iodine, Anti-oxidants (Selenium, Vit. C, Vit. E) Copper, thyroid extract, organic iodine.

c)       Obesity (BMI>30): Childhood obesity: Vit. D (ages 1-13, 5 mcg/day), B12, Vit. C, Fiber, Calcium (an extra 300mg of Calcium= >2 lb. weight drop); other fat soluble vitamins (Vit. A, E, and K), iron (iron is more commonly deficient in obese children and adults and can lead to fatigue and poor mental health and memory function).

1. Other considerations: General health: paleo diet, sleep quality, and exercise (see below).

            You may notice that there is a lot of overlap in many of these vitamin recommendations. If one were to give nutritional recommendations for general health purposes, the anti-inflammatory “big 5” might include 1. A good quality multi-vitamin mineral, 2. Magnesium (often with calcium as a combined supplement), 3. Omega-3 fatty acids; 4. Vitamin D; and 5. Coenzyme Q10. For CTS specifically, the addition of a B complex seems consistently recommended above.  Controlling weight will reduce CTS risk and decrease the risk of acquiring type II diabetes which increases CTS risk by itself. Perhaps an “ideal diet” for everyone might include eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and the elimination of gluten (grains) – referred to by some as the “anti-inflammatory diet,” paleo diet, caveman diet, and Mediterranean diet. Fortifying a great diet with vitamins is the “take-home” concept!

            We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

To schedule an appointment with a carpal tunnel doctor in San Francisco call 415-392-2225. Mention this blog for a complimentary consultation.

Serving local 94111 for over 20 years

San Francisco Deep Tissue Laser for Hand Pain

Our San Francisco Chiropractor  "Patient of the Week" is Deep Tissue Laser Therapy patient Niko Major. Niko was searching for solutions for her hand pain, thumb pain, and arthritis. Medical care did not help and she was very frustrated and discouraged until she found our laser center online. Check out her story. There are natural solutions for hand pain even when all else fails. Deep Tissue Laser Therapy in San Francisco

To schedule an appointment for hand pain laser treatment in San Francisco call 415-392-2225. Mention this review for a complimentary laser session.

Is it Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Something Else?

Carpal Tunnel SYMPTOMS are a common group of complaints presented to chiropractic offices. Symptoms like arm pain, wrist and hand pain, elbow pain, night pain in the hand, weakness, loss of grip strength, numbness, tingling, loss of normal sensations in the arm and hands, and even neck pain.

Sometimes these symptoms are the result of true Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and sometimes they aren't. It's our job to figure out the cause.

Usually, patients with CTS symptoms wait for weeks, months, or even years before seeking care, thus making management more challenging. The history of the “classic” CTS patient includes a mild, sporadic onset that gradually becomes more frequent and intense. This usually leads to continued problems that start to affect other areas proximal to the hand, such as the elbow, shoulder and/or neck. We usually find that people will compensate during their activities, and instead of moving the wrist and hand to perform a task, they will start to move their elbow and shoulder more to avoid irritating movements of the hand/wrist. Over time, overloading the muscles in these areas can lead to one or more conditions commonly referred to as “cumulative trauma disorder” (CTD), which includes many diagnoses including (but not limited to) tendonitis of the thumb (de Quervain’s Disease), ganglion cysts, tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer’s or bowler’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve pinch at the medial elbow), tunnel of Guyon syndrome (ulnar nerve pinch at the wrist), shoulder tendonitis (biceps, rotator cuff), thoracic outlet syndrome (pinched nerve at the shoulder), and / or neck strain, neck herniated disk, pinched nerve, and/or headaches. Many times, these conditions co-exist if the patient has really abused themselves (such as music majors who may practice playing their instrument for 4-5 hours a day) to a point where they are REALLY injured in multiple areas.

            Limiting this discussion to pinched nerves in the neck and upper limb, the question often arises, “…how do you know where the nerve is pinched?” The answer centers around determining an accurate history to find out  EXACTLY where the patient feels numbness, tingling, weakness, and/or pain as each nerve innervates a different area. For example, if a patient says, “…I feel numbness in my 4th and 5th finger,” this tells us that the ulnar nerve is pinched (as opposed to numbness in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th fingers which suggests median nerve pinch -- more classic of CTS). If the patient says the numbness affects the arm from the elbow down to the 4th and 5th finger, this suggests cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve pinch at the medial elbow). If the numbness affects the person from the shoulder to the 4th and 5th finger, thoracic outlet syndrome becomes a probable diagnosis. And lastly, if the neck, shoulder, arm and hand (on the pinky side) are numb, we are suspicious of a pinched nerve in the neck.

            Then, we confirm our suspicions with a more detailed physical examination. Here, we test for compression of a nerve at the neck by positioning the head in a backwards, rotated position and holding it for about 10 seconds to see if the numbness is reproduced. We can also manually (with our hands/fingers) compress the various nerve pathways to see if numbness occurs at the front of the neck, the shoulder under the collar bone, at the elbow and wrist counting the seconds to time the onset of numbness and mapping the numbness location. Placing the shoulder, elbow, and wrist in different positions can pinch the nerve as well, and mapping the location of the numbness tells us where and to what degree the nerve is pinched.

We will also perform a neurological exam testing reflexes and strength, as well as sensory function using a sharp object. A special test called an EMG/NCV (electromyography and nerve conduction velocity) can be obtained to further verify the location and degree of nerve pinching and damage. At our San Francisco Back, Neck, and Wrist Pain Center we first try conservative treatment before ordering nerve tests or MRI.

            The advantage of chiropractic management is that we will treat EVERY LOCATION that may be contributing to the CTS symptoms, whether the pinch is in the neck, shoulder, elbow and/or wrist. Managing the WHOLE PERSON, not just the wrist or CTS is KEY to a successful outcome. And we can do this in a very short period of time. We can adjust from the neck to finger tips on both sides in a matter of minutes. We also have tools such as deep tissue laser therapy that can help speed the healing process as well as advanced soft tissue treatments such as Graston Technique.

            We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

To schedule an appointment with a carpal tunnel doctor in San Francisco please call 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary consultation.

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hand Numbness

We have been providing treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in San Francisco for over 20 years.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) sufferers frequently report a cluster of symptoms, but almost all have one symptom in common – numbness, usually in digits 2-4 on palm-side of the hand. CTS is usually attributed to an over-use type of injury such as repetitive work including (but not limited to): typing, assembly work, packaging jobs, machine operators, and many more.

The patients we treat in the SF Financial District spend the majority of their day in front of a computer doing repetitive motions with their arms and hands. Then, they typically go home and spend more time on the computer. Heck, most do it in between work and home on laptops, tablets, or smart phones.

Last month, we discussed CTS “Facts” and learned many important points about CTS. This month’s focus centers around the common question, “….where is this numbness coming from?”

To answer this, let’s review the anatomy: The carpal tunnel is made up of 8 small “carpal bones” that form an arch or tunnel, and the base of the tunnel is formed from the transverse carpal ligament. There are nine tendons that attach muscles in the forearm to each finger and work when we grip or form a fist with our hand. Wiggle your fingers and look at your wrist and forearm – do you see all the activity or movement going on?

The tendons travel through sheaths which help lubricate the sliding tendons. When we move our fingers fast (such as typing, playing piano, performing assembly work, etc.), friction and heat builds up, resulting in swelling. If adequate rest does not occur, the increased pressure from the swollen tendons end up squeezing all the contents within the tunnel, which includes the median nerve. It’s the median nerve pinch that results in the numbness, tingling, and/or pain into the index, third and forth fingers.

There are other conditions that can either complicate or cause CTS. These include: hypothyroid disease (due to myxedema), diabetes (due to neuropathy), inflammatory arthritis (of which there are several kinds - rheumatoid is the most common), and pinching of the nerve either in the neck, shoulder, elbow or forearm (called double or multiple crush syndrome).

The reason chiropractic helps so much is that we can alleviate the pressure on the nerve from the neck down to the wrist and restore nerve function. This alleviates the multiple sleep interruptions, weakness in the grip that is so common, as well as helping to restore the nerve’s function. Many studies support the success of chiropractic and CTS – try it first as surgery should be the last resort.

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

To schedule an appointment for carpal tunnel treatment in San Francisco please call 415-392-2225

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment

We have been providing treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in San Francisco for over 20 years.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) refers to the median nerve being pinched in a tunnel at the wrist. As the name implies, “carpal” refers to the 8 small bones in the wrist that make up the “U” shaped part of the tunnel and “syndrome” means symptoms that are specific and unique to this condition. As we learned last month, CTS can be affected by nerve pinches more proximal to the wrist, such as at the forearm, elbow, mid-upper arm, shoulder or neck. To make matters more complex, there are two other nerves in the arm that can also be pinched in different tunnels, and the symptoms of numbing and tingling in the arm and hand occur with those conditions as well. This is why a careful clinical history, examination, and sometimes special tests like an EMG/NCV (electromyogram/nerve conduction velocity) offer the information that allows for an accurate diagnosis of one or more of these “tunnel syndromes” in the “CTS” patient. Let’s look at these different tunnels and their associated symptoms, as this will help you understand the ways we can differentiate between these various syndromes or conditions.

            Let’s start at the neck. There are seven cervical vertebrae and eight cervical spinal nerves that exit the spine through a small hole called the IVF (intervertebral foramen). Each nerve, like a wire to a light, goes specifically to a known location which includes: the head (nerves C1, 2, 3), the neck and shoulders (C4, 5), the thumb side of the arm (C6), the middle hand and finger (C7) and the pinky side of the lower arm and hand (C8). If a nerve gets pinched at the spinal level (such as a herniated disk in the neck), usually there is numbness, tingling, and/or pain and sometimes, usually a little later, weakness in the affected part/s of the arm and hand (or numbness in the scalp if it’s a C1-3 nerve pinch). So, we as chiropractors can test the patient’s sensation using light touch, pin prick, vibration, and/or 2-points brought progressively closer together until 1-point is perceived and then comparing it to the other arm/hand. Reflexes and muscle strength are also tested to see if the motor part of the nerve is involved in the pinch. The exam includes compression tests of the neck to see if the arm “lights up” with symptoms during the test.

            Next is the shoulder. Here, the nerves and blood vessels travel through an opening between the collar bone, 1st rib and the chest muscles (Pectorals). As you might think, the nerves and blood vessels can be stretched and pinched as they travel through this opening and can cause “thoracic outlet syndrome.” Symptoms occur when we raise the arm overhead. Hence, our tests include checking the pulse at the wrist to see if it reduces or lessens in intensity as we raise the arm over the head. At the shoulder, the ulnar nerve is the most commonly pinched nerve, which will make the pinky side of the arm and hand numb, tingly, and/or painful. A less common place to pinch the nerves is along humerus bone (upper arm) by a bony process and ligament that is usually not there or resulting from a fracture. Here, an x-ray will show the problem.

            The elbow is the MOST common place to trap the ulnar nerve in the “cubital tunnel” located at the inner elbow near the “funny bone” which we have all bumped more than once. Cubital tunnel syndrome affects the pinky side of the hand from the elbow down. The median/carpal tunnel nerve can get trapped here by the pronator teres muscle, thus “pronator tunnel syndrome.” This COMMONLY accompanies CTS and MUST be treated to obtain good results with CTS patients. The radial nerve can be trapped at the radial tunnel located on the outside of the elbow and creates thumb side and back of the hand numbness/tingling.

            Hence, you see the importance of evaluating and treating ALL the tunnels when CTS is present so a thorough job is done (which is what Chiropractors do). Try the LEAST invasive approach first – non-surgical treatment – as it’s usually all that is needed!

            We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

To schedule an appointment with one of our San Francisco Carpal Tunnel Doctors please call 415-392-2225.

 

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Chiropractor San Francisco Review: Hand Pain

Our San Francisco Chiropractor "Patient of the Week" is Carol Martin. Carol came to our clinic searching for answers to her ongoing  wrist pain. Months ago she had broken her wrist and it never healed properly. 

Pain and swelling persisted even after the cast had been removed. Using a combination of chiropractic adjustments to the neck, arm, and wrist, icing, massage and laser therapy, we have significantly decreased her swelling and pain.

We are now helping her rehabilitate her wrist injury as she continues to improve and heal. As this new year has dawned upon us, we're excited for the progress that Carol has made and we are all looking forward to supporting her along the way.

We have been providing treatment for hand pain in San Francisco since 1992. After-all, the nerves the innervate and control the hand originate in the neck. Pressure on these nerves will cause pain and malfunction in the shoulders, arms and hands.

Many chiropractors such as ourselves specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of neck, arm, and hand pain. We can help conditions such as r tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sprain and strains, repetitive stress injuries, and fractures that have not healed properly.

To schedule an appointment with one of our San Francisco Hand Pain Doctors call 415-392-2225. Mention this hand pain review for a complimentary consultation.

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Hand Pain and the Role of the Neck

We have been providing treatment for hand pain in San Francisco for over 20 years now. During this time we have learned much about the role of the neck when it comes to hand pain and carpal tunnel symptoms. 

After-all, the nerves that innervate and control the shoulder, arm, wrist and hand, originate in the neck. The neck is the source of power, energy and life for the upper extremity.

If we were to cut-off the nerve supply from the neck to the hands, the hands would die. If there is diminished nerve supply the hands will malfunction and symptoms will manifest. In order for the hands to function at 100%, they need 100% nerve power. Some of the signs and symptoms of nerve pressure in the neck are as follows:

 

1. Neck Pain

2. Shoulder, Arm, and Elbow Pain

3. Wrist and Hand Pain

4. Numbness and Tingling in the Arms and Hands

5. Weakness of Grip

6. Night Pain

These are also the classic signs and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Yes, the same symptoms result from nerve interference between the neck and had as true CTS, which is the result of pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. This is because the median nerve originates in the neck.

Interesting Huh? This is why it is SO important for a doctor to check you from the neck to the fingertips when you have hand pain or any of the other carpal tunnel SYMPTOMS.

There is a subset of chiropractors like us that specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of neck, arm and hand pain. Chiropractic upper extremity experts will incorporate tools such as deep tissue laser therapy, Graston Technique, ART, and upper extremity adjustments, in addition to cervical spine adjustments to remove nerve pressure from the neck to the hands.

Sometimes hand pain will resolve quickly...sometimes it takes a while. It just depends how long your condition has been there and the extent of the damage. One thing for sure...taking pain pills, anti-inflammatory medication such as cortisone injections, and wearing wrist splints, is not going to do much for you if the problem is nerve pressure in the neck from subluxations, bulging or herniated discs, disc degeneration, or muscle spasms.

Physical pressure on nerves (to the hand) requires the removal of the pressure on the nerves or the carpal tunnel symptoms will persist.

If you need help finding a carpal tunnel doctor in your area you can send me an email at ebendavis@yahoo.com and I will try to find a doctor I have trained in your area.

To schedule an appointment with one of our San Francisco Carpal Tunnel Doctors please call 415-392-2225. Mention this blog post for a complimentary consultation.

Serving local 94111 since 1992

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Chiropractor or M.D. for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a very common problem affecting a large population (1 out of 20 in the general population) including typists, assembly line workers, postal employees, secretaries, servers/waiters, musicians, carpenters, and many others. CTS drives a high level of cost to the health care system between time lost from work, treatment costs, and short and long term disability payments (on average $30,000 per claim, and this is an old stat!). Continued CTS signs and symptoms can persist long after surgical treatment and the question that typically arises when this happens is “…why?” Let’s take a look at reasons for failed treatment of CTS…

The classic non-surgical medical management model for treating CTS includes non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medication (like ibuprofen), rest, and the use of nocturnal (night time) wrist splints. This approach works in some cases, but in the majority, it is unsuccessful and leads to the next medical management step: surgery.  And frequently, the CTS surgery fails and follow-up surgery is needed.

The classic chiropractic management model for treating CTS includes similar initial treatment approaches including anti-inflammatory measures, rest, and night wrist splints. One anti-inflammatory measure is ice massage or cupping, where the ice is rubbed directly on the skin until numbness is achieved (this usually takes about 4 minutes). Prior to numbness, there will be a burning and aching often described as intense, “…like a brain-freeze when I drink a slushy too fast.” The ice cup approach can be repeated several times a day. Other anti-inflammatory measures may include the use of herbal anti-inflammatory nutrients such as ginger, tumeric, boswellia, bioflavinoids, and/or the use of digestive enzymes taken between meals to help reduce the inflammation. The “rest” component is also shared by both models as is the use of the night wrist splint. So, what makes the chiropractic model different?

The nerve affected in CTS is called the median nerve. It arises initially from the nerves in the neck, specifically, C6-8 and T1 nerve roots which are part of the brachial plexus. These form into one nerve (the median nerve) which travels through small openings, first at the neck followed by the shoulder (called the thoracic outlet), then into the arm through a muscle at the elbow (pronator tunnel), and finally through the carpal tunnel at the wrist to innervate the hand including the palm and the 2nd, 3rd digits and thumb side of the 4th finger. The median nerve can get “crushed” in more than one tunnel and treatment must address the WHOLE nerve, not just at the carpal tunnel / wrist. This chiropractic management of CTS helps many patients because the nerve along its entire course including the neck, shoulder, and elbow is treated, not just the wrist!

A little known fact is that pressure on the nerves in the neck from misaligned vertebrae, bulging and herniated discs, or spinal degeneration, can cause the same signs and symptoms as CTS. This is why it is so important for doctors to check from the neck to the finger tips when diagnosing carpal tunnel symptoms.

In addition, there must be an effective method of treatment…not just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments to the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers can actually remove physical pressure off the nerve roots and nerves addressing the true cause of the problem, 100% naturally.

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

To schedule an appointment with one of our carpal tunnel doctors in San Francisco call 415-392-2225. 

Serving local 94111 for over 20 years

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Natural Solutions

We have been providing treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome in San Francisco for over 20 years.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition characterized by pain, numbness and/or tingling in the hand. This includes the palm and the 2nd, 3rd, and half of the 4th finger, usually sparing the thumb. Another indication of CTS is weakness in grip strength such as difficulty opening a jar to even holding a coffee cup. CTS can occur from many different causes, the most common being repetitive motion injuries such as assembly line or typing/computing work. Here is a PARTIAL list of potential causes of CTS: heredity (a small sized tunnel), aging (>50 years old), rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, hypothyroid, birth control pill use, trauma to the wrist (especially colles fractures), diabetes mellitus, acromegaly, the use of corticosteroids, tumors (benign or malignant), obesity (BMI>29 are 2.5 more likely), double crush (pinching of the nerve in more than 1 place such as the neck and the carpal tunnel), heterozygous mutations in a gene (associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth), Parvovirus b19, and others. Again, repetitive trauma is still the most common cause. It becomes quite clear that a COMPLETE physical examination must be conducted, not just evaluation of the wrist! Once the cause(s) of CTS has been nailed down, then treatment options can be considered.

            From a treatment perspective, we’ve previously discussed what chiropractors typically do for CTS (spinal and extremity joint manipulation, muscle/soft tissue mobilization, physical therapy modalities such as deep tissue laser, the use of a wrist splint – especially at night, work task modifications, wrist/hand/arm/neck exercises, vitamin B6, and more). But, what about using other “alternative” or non-medical approaches, especially those that can be done with chiropractic treatment? Here is a list of four alternative or complementary treatment options:

1. Anti-inflammatory Goals: Reducing systemic inflammation reduces overall pressure on the median nerve that travels through the limited space within the carpal tunnel at the wrist. An “anti-inflammatory diet” such a Mediterranean diet, gluten-free diet, paleo-diet (also referred to as the caveman diet) can also help. Herbs that can helps include arnica, bromelain, white willow bark, curcumen, ginger, turmeric, boswellia, and vitamins such as bioflavinoids, Vitamin B6 (and other B vitamins such as B1 and B12), vitamin C, and also omega 3 fatty acids.
2. Acupuncture: Inserting very thin needles into specific acupuncture points both near the wrist and further away can unblock energy channels (called meridians), improve energy flow, release natural pain reducing chemicals (endorphins and enkephlins), promote circulation and balance the nervous system. For CTS, the acupuncture points are located on the wrist, arm, thumb, hand, neck, upper back and leg. The number of sessions varies, dependant on how long the CTS has been present, the person’s overall health, and the severity of CTS.
3. Laser acupuncture: The use of a low level (or “cold” laser) or a class IV pulsed laser over the same acupuncture points as mentioned above can have very similar beneficial effects (without needles)! One particular study of 36 subjects with CTS for an average of 24 months included 14 patients who had 1-2 prior surgeries for CTS with poor post-surgical results. Even in that group, improvement was reported after 3 laser treatments per week for 4-5 weeks! In total, 33 of the 36 subjects reported 50-100% relief. These benefits were reportedly long-term as follow-up at 1-2 years later showed only 2 out of 23 subjects had pain that returned and subsequent laser treatment was again successful within several weeks.
4. Acupressure: Acupuncture point stimulation with manual pressure. These points can be self-stimulated by the CTS sufferer multiple times a day via deep rubbing techniques.

            We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

To schedule an appointment with one of our carpal tunnel doctors in San Francisco call 415-392-2225. Mention this blog post for a complimentary CTS consultation and trial laser session.

San Francisco Chiropractor Review: Hand Pain

The Executive Express Chiropractic San Francisco "Patient of the Week" is Mary Frazier. Mary was having problems opening and closing her hands and was recovering from recent hand surgery when we met. The hand surgery for the most part was successful but she still wished her hand pain and grip strength could be better. Mary wanted to have more power in her hands and less pain and dysfunction.

One of Mary's doctors told her that certain chiropractors that specialized in the wrists and hands could possibly help her so she did some online research, found Executive Express Chiropractic, and decided to try us out. We have been working on Mary from the neck to the finger tips on both sides for about a month or so now. We found that Mary had pressure on the nerves in the neck that control or innervate the hands, as well as misalignment's in the wrists.

Our treatment consists of spinal adjustments to the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers, along with massage, myofascial release to the neck and upper extremities, traction and exercises. Well, so far so good. Mary is slowly improving and is much better than she was. We are both hoping these positive changes become permanent and that Mary can simply maintain them with periodic visits and home exercises. We are both hopeful.

To schedule an appoinment with a hand pain doctor in San Francisco please call 415-392-2225. Mention this blog post for a complimentary consultation. 

Serving local zip code 94111 for over twenty years