Problems of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The nerves that control muscles in the arms and hands come from the spine at the lower part of the neck (McGill, 1997, p. 44). Many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome have their origins in this area because pinched nerves in the neck create discomfort in the wrist. The wrists contain seven bones called carpals. The carpal bones of the wrist are stacked in rows with an opening between them known as the carpal tunnel. Nerves coming from the neck and arms pass through these tunnels on their way to the hands and fingers. If they do not receive the proper nerve conduction, when the wrists are put under constant stress, such as in typing, the bones move out of their normal position and pinch the nerves in the wrist, producing painful symptoms in the hands, wrists and forearms, known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Numbness is felt initially, later it is mixed with sharp shooting pains up into the forearms. If the condition is not treated, tension will develop in the arms and shoulders, further complicating the problem by causing muscle spasms in the arms and shoulders.

This problem is often caused by muscle spasms and subluxations in the cervical vertebrae in the neck, and can come from an old injury which may have been forgotten, or from repetitive movements of the wrists and hands over many years. The vertebrae subluxation complex is a misalignment or malposition of an articular joint, such as one in the vertebral column. This subluxation puts pre

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nerves (McGill, 1997, p. 46). Once a joint becomes misaligned, receptors in it start sending signals to the brain to register the problem. The brain sends signals to the muscles around the joint, causing them to tighten around the joint in an effort to pull the misplaced bones back into position. Sometimes this muscle action does not correctly realign the joint bones, and the muscles go into spasm. The muscle spasms may pull the joint further out of alignment, or put pressure on nerves passing through the area. Nerve impulses from the injured area to the brain thus pass along distorted information and this leaves the joint with abnormal function. As the bones are out of alignment, the joint does not move correctly, and this puts stress on the joint structures and, again, sends incorrect messages to the brain, including messages from kinesthetic receptors. The joint may become swollen and inflamed, and the joint space fill with inflammatory products, which will make it stiff. It may also be stiff if the tendons and ligaments holding the joint are distorted, injured or inflamed, or the muscles surrounding the joint are in spasm. The bones will often jam together, sending out signals which will cause more muscle spasms.

Category: Medical - P