Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

The carpal tunnel is a passageway that runs from the forearm through the wrist. Bones form three walls of the tunnel and a strong, broad ligament bridges over them. The median nerve, which supplies feeling to the thumb, index, and ring fingers, and the nine tendons that flex the fingers, passes through this tunnel. This nerve also provides function for the muscles at the base of the thumb (the thenar muscles). Usually, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is considered an inflammatory disorder caused by repetitive stress, physical injury, or other conditions that cause the tissues around the median nerve to become swollen. It occurs either when the protective lining of the tendons within the carpal tunnel become inflamed and swell or when the ligament that forms the roof becomes thicker and broader. Just as stepping on a hose slows the flow of water through a garden hose, so compression on the median nerve fibers by the swollen tendons and thickened ligament slows down the transmission of nerve signals through the carpal tunnel. The result is pain, numbness, and tingling in the wrist, hand, and fingers (except the little finger, which is not affected by the median nerve).

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of a group of disorders categorized by several different terms: repetitive stress injuries, cumulative trauma disorder, overuse syndromes, chronic upper limb pain syndrome, or repetitive motion disorders. All of these problems are generally associated with repetitive and forceful use of the hands that damage muscles and bones of the upper extremities.

Dr. Nelson is very successful in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which can be caused by misalignment of the bones in the spinal column, ribs being misplaced, misalignment in the shoulder, elbow or wrist. He has people come from all over the United States and Canada to be treated.