Many carpal tunnel injuries are not diagnosed correctly
When I was in Safeway today buying some groceries, the grocery clerk was wearing a wrist brace. I couldn’t help myself from asking her about her injury. She told me because of the repetitive motion of swiping groceries through the scanner and using the register to key in codes, she was experiencing pain in her wrist, elbow and into her hands. She explained that her doctor told her she had carpal tunnel syndrome and that anti-inflammatories and the brace would take care of it. Six months later, meaning today, she was still experiencing the pain. I asked her if she had made another appointment with her doctor for a follow up and to tell him the injuries were still persisting but she explained she didn’t make the time and was not enthusiastic about another ’successful’ appointment.
This scenario happens all too often, where a patient experiencing pain in their wrist/hand and without many diagnostic tests, they are given the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The real meaning of carpal tunnel syndrome is when the bones in the wrist (carpal bones) along with the tendons and nerves are inflamed causing pressure to the nerves that go into the hand. This usually occurs with incorrect repetitive motion of the wrist such as typing in a non-friendly ergonomic environment. The same nerve that goes through the wrist actually originates in the neck between the C5/C6 and C7 vertebrae. Once the nerve exits between the vertebrae, it travels into the shoulder under the rotator cuff muscles. Those nerves branch into several nerves entering the elbow, forearm and then into the carpal region.
Once the pattern of the nerve is understood, it can be better understood where the problem may exist besides the wrist. Often times, the original source of nerve impingment may be in the elbow joint, or tendonitis in the shoulder muscles and very often problems that are present in the neck.
In order to get relief from the pain, the problem must be diagnosed correctly and the SOURCE of the problem must be identified. A thorough examination of the wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck must be a part of the tests. For more information click here.
