Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects the hand and wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm to the hand, becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist. This compression can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers. It is often caused by repetitive hand movements, such as typing or using a computer mouse for extended periods.

The bones in the hand can affect carpal tunnel syndrome. There are 8 bones in your hand and they can be moved into a wrong position which narrows the tunnel space for the nerves running into the hand.  The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist formed by the carpal bones. When the bones in the hand are misaligned or injured, it can lead to inflammation and swelling in the carpal tunnel. This can put pressure on the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel, and cause symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, certain hand movements or repetitive motions can strain the bones and surrounding tissues, contributing to the development or worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome.

C.W.:  I play the piano and I found that I couldn't make my hands stretch apart far enough to reach a full octave anymore.  I had planned on having carpal tunnel surgery so I told Dr. Steward about the upcoming surgery.  She asked me to give her a few weeks to work on my wrist before I went through with the surgery.  After the first treatment my hands could stretch the full octave, and my hands didn't hurt anymore..  I am so glad I told her about the problem before I had the surgery.  That surgery was completely unnecessary and it would have been a very painful recovery.  Dr. Steward's treatment didn't hurt at all.