Advanced Spine and Sports Care - May 13, 2002
http://www.advanced-chiropractic-chicago.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
* Welcome
* Question of the Week
* Articles & Features - Facts On Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Please forward this newsletter to a friend!

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W E L C O M E
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Thank you for reading our first installment of our new
monthly newsletter. This is our effort to keep in touch
with you, and to provide valuable health and chiropractic
information. I appreciate your input and will do the best
I can to incorporate your suggestions. And if you have
any chiropractic questions, you can submit them online
and I'll answer them for you. Visit:

http://www.chiropracticsportscare.com/ask_dr_ingham.shtml

Please read on.

To your health.

Dr. Jason Ingham

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Q U E S T I O N O F T H E W E E K
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*Question*
What can a chiropractor do for PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME and
how long for results. Should I be going 1 or 2 x's a week?
- Carol

*Answer*
Carol,

Proper functioning and positioning of the pelvis, namely the
sacroiliac joint, can relieve Piriformis syndrome. As far as
the frequency of visits, this depends on the individual and
the severity of the condition, age of the patient, etc. It
is not uncommon to see patients 3x's per week for a few
weeks depending on the condition. Good luck and remember
correct the problem, as your chiropractic doctor for a
corrective care plan not just relief care.

Dr. Jason W. Ingham

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A R T I C L E S & F E A T U R E S
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FACTS ON CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

What Is The Carpal Tunnel?
Carpus is the medical term referring to the wrist. The carpal
tunnel is the passage for the major nerve in the wrist (the
median nerve) and the tendons in the wrist formed by the
ligament of the wrist and the carpal bones. The median nerve
passes through the carpal tunnel to innervate the hand and
fingers.

What Can Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
In carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve is compressed as
it passes through the canal made by the wrist bones and the
ligament of the wrist. The nerve may be compressed or trapped
in its path due to joint changes in rheumatoid arthritis or
other systemic diseases. In most cases, however, inflammation
of the tendons and tissues of the wrist which causes the
syndrome is not associated with systemic illness.

How Can I Tell If I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The majority of patients affected by this syndrome are middle-
aged women. The usual symptoms are pricking numbness and
pain which is most prominent in the first three fingers, the
thumb, and the palm. This pain comes on especially during the
night and is relieved by shaking the hand. Aching may
accompany the numbness and extend up the arm. In late
cases, there may be wasting of the hand and finger
muscles innervated by the median nerve.

What Can I Do To Ease the Pain Temporarily?
Place the hand in the neutral non-flexed position and
avoid bending the wrist.

If you have pain that may be associated with this syndrome,
applyan ice pack or cold compress to the wrist to help reduce
any inflammation and thereby decrease the pain. Use the
compress for 20- to 30-minute periods with at least a
30-minute interval between each application.

If you have chronic pain, apply moist heat to the wrist. Use
the heat for 20-minute periods with at least a 30-minute
interval between each application.

What Can the Doctor of Chiropractic Do to Help?
Doctors of chiropractic are educated and trained in the
detection and care of musculoskeletal problems, particularly
the joints ofthe spinal column and extremities (shoulder, arm, wrist, etc.). Your chiropractor can provide you with a
complete examination and recommendations for care
appropriate to your case.

He/she will seek to differentiate local problems from spinal
referred pain. Since the median nerve originates in the neck,
the doctor of chiropractic will examine the neck area.

In addition, some musculoskeletal problems affect the nerves
and blood vessels in the arm and may mimic carpal tunnel.
The doctor of chiropractic may perform some orthopedic
tests in an effort to detect interference with blood flow
through the arm or changes in sensation if distant problems
cannot be found. He or she will examine the local wrist area
for deformities, swelling, fixation or movement dysfunction
of the carpal bones in the wrist.

X-ray images of the wrist and possibly some laboratory
tests may be ordered to examine for one of several different
varieties of arthritis. You will be asked to flex the wrist and
extend the fingers. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome wrist
flexing will cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the fingers.

If a movement dysfunction is detected in the wrist, your
chiropractor may adjust the carpal bones to relieve pressure
on the median nerve. If the problem is found to originate in
the neck (cervical), shoulder area or a combination of both,
the doctor of chiropractic may adjust the neck and shoulder
areas as well.

If your condition should require examination by another
health care specialist however, your chiropractor will refer you.

Source: International Chiropractors Association

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