Many patients come into our office with wrist complaints. Some of them have numbness and tingling in the palm or surface of the hand involving the thumb and first two and a half fingers. The symptoms can be more severe at night and the patient can feel clumsy and have diminished grip strength.
Common Causes
- Repeated minor injuries
- Overuse
- Repetitive motions
- Using vibrating tools
- Computer keyboard
- Poorly designed work stations
Factors that can contribute to wrist pain:
- Fluid retention
- Pregnancy
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Vitamin B Deficiency
The Chiropractic Approach
- Thorough patient history and exam
- Nutritional support
- Protecting the wrist
- Ice
- Rest
- Chiropractic adjustment
- Ergonomic advice
Often, patients report improvement after having their neck adjusted. Neck subluxations can often cause problems and nerve irritation. The brachial plexus is fed by nerves that pass through the lower neck.
Wrist Adjustments
There are a couple of bones in the wrist that can be misaligned causing pressure and or pain in the median nerve.
Chiropractic Analysis
Through muscle tests we determine if and what needs to be adjusted. The lunate can cause pressure on the median nerve. The scaphiod can be misaligned and is the most often fractured bone in the wrist.
Try the conservative approach of chiropractic care before submitting yourself to surgery. Remember, once your body has been surgically altered you cannot put it back.
