Is It Really Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Many people in San Diego are needlessly suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Whether from overuse or injury, carpal tunnel syndrome is simply compression of the median nerve resulting in a loss of sensation, pain, or tingling in several fingers of the hand. If you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome, be sure to check the full list of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms below to rule out a possible case of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

What Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Feel Like?

Why Do We Get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The carpal tunnel is the opening in the wrist between the carpal bones and the flexor retinaculum — a band of connective tissue that keeps the tendons from pulling away from your body when you flex your wrist. Many of the tendons, nerves, and blood vessels that allow your hands to function run through this tunnel. Unfortunately, the tunnel is not very large.

When the muscles of the hand and forearm get too tight — from repetitive motions, a lack of stretching, or a strength imbalance — they begin to become inflamed and swell, taking up the small amount of “extra” space that normally allows the tendons to slide freely, the nerves to send signals properly, and blood flow to move at the proper level. This inflammation can cause pain and swelling and ultimately cause an entrapment of the Median Nerve, causing numbness in the wrists or hands. Chronic overuse from typing, texting, holding the steering wheel, a book, or a pen makes the muscles in the front of the hand and arm much stronger and tighter than the muscles on the back side — this imbalance causes the hand to stay in a semi-clenched state, effectively shrinking your carpal tunnel and causing irritation.

How Does Massage Help Recover from Carpal Tunnel?

The first step in successfully relieving carpal tunnel syndrome is to loosen and relax the muscles of the forearm. These muscles largely control the movement of the hand and wrist, and when tight they place tremendous pressure on the wrist and the carpal tunnel.

Second, we loosen and relax the muscles of the hand, concentrating mostly on the opponens pollicis and abductor pollicis brevis, which together pull the thumb closer to the midline of the hand.

Once massage is used to open and stretch the wrist flexors and hand muscles, a simple regimen of stretching the forearm and hand flexors and strengthening the extensors will provide continued relief from carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Massage therapists at A New Body Massage in San Diego are all trained to assess and help you recover from carpal tunnel and other wrist and hand-related repetitive stress injuries.

How to Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Change typing and working habits — use a neutral wrist position
• Stretch forearm, hand, and shoulder muscles regularly
• Strengthen wrist and finger extensors