Headaches & Nerve Pain
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Hand numbness and tingling associated with the median nerve at the wrist.
Also called: Median nerve compression at the wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome involves the median nerve as it passes through a narrow tunnel at the wrist. Classic symptoms involve the thumb, index, and middle fingers, and are often worse at night or after repetitive hand use.
Similar symptoms can also arise from irritation further up the arm or from the neck, so the same hand complaint does not always mean the same underlying source, which is why both areas are examined.
Why this matters
Sleep disturbance, dropping objects, and difficulty with fine tasks such as buttoning clothing or typing are the usual complaints, and they tend to build gradually rather than appear suddenly.
Work and hobby activities that involve repetitive gripping or wrist positioning are worth reviewing, since ongoing exposure to the same movements can keep symptoms from settling.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Grip strength and hand motor-function testing help show whether the nerve supply to the hand is being affected, and to what degree, rather than relying on the symptom description alone.
Because the neck can produce a similar hand pattern, sensation and reflex testing there are used to check whether more than one point along the pathway is contributing.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
This is a concern where medical evaluation, imaging or co-management may be the right first step. Dr. Mike Geran will say so plainly if that is what the history and examination suggest.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Some symptoms need medical evaluation first. If anything in your history or examination suggests that, we will say so and help point you in the right direction.
- Muscle wasting at the base of the thumb
- Constant numbness that does not vary
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Headaches — Headaches have many drivers. Understanding which ones apply to you is the point of the evaluation.
- Cervical Radiculopathy — Arm symptoms that follow a nerve root pattern from the neck.
- Cervicogenic Headache — Headache arising from structures in the neck.
- Craniofacial Pain — Pain across the head and face with several possible sources.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.