The median nerve runs from the neck to the wrist through the Carpal Tunnel.
What is the Carpal Tunnel?
The Carpal Tunnel is located on the palm side of your wrist. It is a tunnel to protect the median nerve which controls index and middle finger function.
If there is any kind of blockage, pressure or inflammation in this tunnel it puts pressure on the nerve, creating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Symptoms
Carpal Tunnel syndrome typically starts with a vague aching in your wrist that can extend to your hand or forearm.
Tingling or numbness in your fingers or hand, especially thumb, index, middle or ring fingers, but not little finger. This often occurs upon awakening with many people “shaking out” their hands to relieve their symptoms.
Pain from your wrist up your arm to your shoulder or down into your palm or fingers, especially after forceful or repetitive use.
Weakness in your hands and a tendency to drop objects.
A loss of feeling in some fingers.
Unnecessary surgery
Typically patients go to a doctor complaining of some or all of the above symptoms, they have an ultrasound or similar investigation and then have carpal tunnel surgery. They are then frustrated because the symptoms don’t go away.
Thorough assessment
The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel are symptoms of a problem to the Median Nerve. This nerve runs from the neck, through the shoulder, upper arm, elbow and forearm, through the Carpal Tunnel in the wrist and into the hand. This means that compromise at any point can cause these symptoms.
This means that the entire route of the Median Nerve must be examined to determine the actual location of the pressure on the nerve.
If you have pain in both wrists it is CRITICAL to get a proper assessment of the neck