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Writer's pictureRebekah Bruner, DC

The Cause of Carpal Tunnel not in the Tunnel?


What is Carpal Tunnel?

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Carpal tunnel syndrome is an entrapment of the median nerve as it passes beneath the transverse carpal ligament.

Inflammation or adhesions build up from repetitive stress injuries from doing task such as using vibrating equipment, or typing. This compresses the median nerve which causes numbness, tingling, or pain in the thumb, and first two fingers

The pain can be debilitating. The pain is usually most prevalent at night.

The Ugly Truth about Carpal Tunnel Syndome

More than eight million people are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome each year. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is the second most common type of musculoskeletal surgery, (back surgery is #1) with well over 230,000 procedures performed annually.

Carpal tunnel syndrome results in the highest number of days lost among all work related injuries. Almost half of the carpal tunnel cases result in 31 days or more of work loss - (National Center for Health Statistics).

ONLY 23% of all carpal tunnel syndrome patients returned to their previous professions following surgery, according to the Bureau of Labor & Statistics and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (1997-2000 Statistics).

The Even Worse News...

Carpal tunnel surgery has about a 57% failure rate following patients from 1-day to 6-years. At least one of the following symptoms re-occurred during this time: Pain, Numbness, Tingling sensations. Source: (Nancollas, et al, 1995. J. Hand Surgery).

With so many surgeries, why is the success rate so low?

The problem is the way the way carpal tunnel is traditionally treated.

There are many reasons carpal tunnel surgery does not go as planned. The number one cause for failed treatment is the location.

Surgery only addresses the nerve at the wrist. Many times through repetitive trauma, adhesions build up in muscles surrounding the nerve. This entraps the nerve above the carpal tunnel giving same symptoms.

Another reason is scar tissue builds up from the surgery and the healing process entraps the nerve.

With poor ergonomic posture looking down for long periods of time the nerve root supplying the nerve can be stretched and irritated.

The key to successfully treatment is to think outside the carpal tunnel!

We effectively treat carpal tunnel and other soft tissue injuries effectively without the use of surgery.

Many patients have experienced relief as soon as one treatment depending on the severity of the condition!

Our treatments are more effective, safer, and have better outcome percentages than other dangerous procedures such as surgery, or injections.

Protect your greatest asset! Avoid injury.

Use proper workplace ergonomics:

  • Sit with the spine against the back of the chair with the shoulders relaxed.

  • The elbows should rest along the sides of the body, with wrists straight.

  • The feet should be firmly on the floor or on a footrest.

  • Typing materials should be at eye level so that the neck does not bend over the work.

  • Taking multiple "microbreaks" (about 3 minutes each) reduces strain and discomfort without decreasing productivity.

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Do you suffer from carpal tunnel? Let us show you how we can help. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Bruner at Optimized Living Institute today!

Call us at 817.431.9911

Dr. Derek Bruner is a soft tissue expert with a Nerve Entrapment Certification. He completed his chiropractic internship at a prominent sports medicine facility, specializing in soft-tissue injuries, athletic performance, & injury prevention.

He received his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Parker University.

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