Carpal Tunnel Symptoms
Wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome
Numbness in your fingers. Pain that wakes you at night. A grip that isn't as strong as it used to be. These are the hallmarks of carpal tunnel syndrome — and for many people, surgery feels like the only option. It doesn't have to be.
At Chiropractic Solutions of Denver, we take a conservative, whole-nerve approach to carpal tunnel symptoms. Rather than focusing only on the wrist, we evaluate the entire nerve pathway from your cervical spine to your fingertips to find where compression is actually occurring.
Understanding nerve compression
Think of a nerve like a garden hose running from your neck to your hand. If you step on that hose anywhere along its length, the water pressure drops at the end. The same principle applies to nerve function — compression or irritation at any point along the nerve's path can produce numbness, tingling, and pain in your hand and wrist.
The median and ulnar nerves travel from the cervical spine through the scalene muscles, under the collarbone, past the pectoralis minor, through the elbow, down the forearm, and into the carpal tunnel at the wrist. There are approximately 10 sites along this path where compression or entrapment can occur. The carpal tunnel itself is only one of them.
This is why many carpal tunnel surgeries fail to fully resolve symptoms — the wrist may have been one site of compression, but not the only one. A thorough evaluation that examines all potential entrapment sites is essential before any treatment decision is made.
Common symptoms
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms can appear in one or both hands and typically develop gradually:
- Nighttime numbness or pain — waking up with tingling in the fingers, often relieved by shaking the hand
- Pins-and-needles sensation — intermittent tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers
- Grip weakness — difficulty holding objects, dropping things more frequently
- Pain with use — symptoms that worsen during repetitive hand motions or sustained gripping
- Forearm aching — pain radiating between the elbow and wrist
- Morning stiffness — fingers that feel stiff or swollen upon waking
How we evaluate and treat carpal tunnel
Dr. Baldwin begins with a comprehensive examination that includes orthopedic testing of the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and cervical spine. Provocative tests such as Phalen's maneuver, Tinel's sign, and upper limb tension tests help determine exactly where along the nerve pathway compression is occurring.
Treatment targets each site of compression individually and may include:
- Cervical adjustments — restore proper alignment and reduce nerve root irritation at the spine
- Extremity adjustments — mobilize the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints to relieve mechanical compression
- Soft tissue therapy — release tight muscles and fascia in the forearm, scalenes, and pectorals that may be entrapping the nerve
- Acupuncture — reduce inflammation along the nerve pathway and improve local circulation
- Rehabilitation exercises — nerve gliding and tendon gliding exercises that improve nerve mobility through the carpal tunnel
A 2008 study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that patients receiving chiropractic care for carpal tunnel syndrome reported significant improvements in grip strength, range of motion, and pain levels. Research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy has also demonstrated that manual therapy targeting the cervical spine and upper extremity can effectively reduce carpal tunnel symptoms.
When to consider other options
Conservative treatment is effective for the majority of carpal tunnel cases, particularly when symptoms are caught early. However, if nerve conduction studies show severe nerve damage or if symptoms continue to progress despite treatment, we will refer you to a hand specialist for further evaluation. Our goal is always the best outcome for you, whether that's achieved in our office or through coordinated care with another provider.
Is carpal tunnel treatment covered by insurance?
Most insurance plans cover chiropractic evaluation and treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Our team will verify your benefits before treatment begins. We also offer self-pay options for patients without coverage.
Contact us at 303.647.9196 or to schedule an evaluation and find out if conservative treatment can resolve your carpal tunnel symptoms.