Wrist Pain
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
CTS is an irritation of the median nerve as it passes through the groove (tunnel) between the carpal (hand) bones on the palm side of the hand. Spanning over the tunnel is the transverse creates pressure within the tunnel, thus putting pressure on the median nerve. Symptoms of median nerve irritation are numbness, tingling and pain from the wrist to the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger. The difficulty with this condition is that it is hard to eliminate using the hand and wrist because the overuse creating the initial problem is usually from a job situation where the hands and wrists are used over and over such as a clerical or assembly line job. In severe persistent cases surgery to release the transverse carpal ligament is performed. However, prior to that stage, there are treatments that you can try and ones that I use on my patients.
Basic Treatment
- Ideally, but not absolutely necessary, start with ice 10-15 minutes for ice or cold pack on the wrist.
- After cooling the tissues to reduce inflammation, attach the PAT unit using one electrode pad on the palm side of the wrist and the other on the other side of the wrist. Adjust the setting to wrist and press start. Remember to always clean the skin surfaces first to remove dead skin and anything else that may be on the skin.
- Following the treatment stretch the carpal tunnel using the technique shown in figure 1. This slowly stretches the transverse carpal ligament and help open the space and usually helps relieve some pressure on the median nerve
Case History
- PS, North Carolina—63 y/o female. Physician diagnosed tendinitis of left thumb with pain from thumb to above wrist. Treated 2x daily for 10 days. Initial pain level at 8/10. Following first treatment pain level was reduced to 2/10 and lasted approximately 2 hours. Second treatment began at pain level 4 and reduced to 1/10 which lasted 13 hours By the 4th day the left thumb pain was near zero and lasted between treatments.