Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Stemming From Your Neck? Maybe NOT!!!!

Are you experiencing numbness and tingling in one or both of your hands?  Weakness and incoordination in them as well?  Well, you may be experiencing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!... or are you?!   Did you know that symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may actually be stemming from your neck!

Before I explain this surprising fact, let me tell you about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. 

As can see from the diagram on the right, the carpal tunnel is not actually within the wrist, as so many people think, it's actually located at the base of the hand.  Through this tunnel passes several tendons that attach to your fingers and squeezed amongst those tendons is your Median Nerve.  Over top of those structures, you have the Transverse Carpal Ligament that holds everything in place.

It should be noted that the carpal tunnel is quite small and all the tendons and the median nerve are literally squeezed inside.

So through repetitive strain (e.g. via repetitive tasks like typing, screw driving, cutting, etc) or trauma, the carpal tunnel becomes inflamed and the tendons begin to squeeze the median nerve and that's when you experience the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (e.g. numbness and tingling, weakness and muscle wasting in your hand(s))

So typically, when people experience Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, they will visit their family doctor and your doctor will initially give you a prescription for anti-inflammatory medication or a suggest getting a wrist support and if the symptoms persist, then they will recommend surgery.

So nothing is working and you opt for surgery, but the doctor wants you to get a Nerve Conduction Velocity test (a test that measures the speed at which signals are sent through your nerve.  If is slowed then there is impingement of the nerve).

You sit in the specialist office and they hook up the needles in your hand and arm (not a pleasant experience, but one that has to be done).  Well, it has been determined that you have a slow signal speed in your nerve, you do have carpal tunnel and consequently you undergo Carpal Tunnel surgery... but it FAILS!  You still have the symptoms!





Carpal Tunnel Surgery can fail for 2 main reasons...

   1. Post-surgical scar tissue formation - Due to the invasive surgery and the inflammation that develops after, scar tissue is laid down and wraps tightly around your median nerve and creates the same symptoms that you had undergone surgery for.
   2. The cause of you carpal tunnel symptoms NEVER stemmed from your hand in the first place!

So let's address point number 2.  But before I do, let me give you an analogy.  We have all heard of Sciatica (pain shooting down ones leg from a problem stemming from the back).  Some people will only experience sciatic pain and not back pain.  So would it make sense to operated on your calf or ankle if you experience sciatic pain?  Of course it wouldn't!  You would naturally address the problem in the back to remove your sciatic pain.

Well, did you know that the same nerve distribution that originates in your back and goes down into your legs is essentially the same as the nerve distribution that stems from your neck and goes down into your hands!

If you notice from the picture on the right, you will see that your nerves starting from your neck travel all the way down your arm and down to your finger tips, much like the nerves in your back go right down to your toes.

So having said that, if you have something pinching your nerve in your neck, would it make sense that you would have a decrease in the speed of your nerve impulse in your hand?  Of course it would!

Think of it this way, if you turned on your garden sprinkler and you noticed that little water was coming out, would you throw away the sprinkler and buy a new one? Did you say "Yes"?

Well what if the problem was a blockage at where the hose is attached to the facet?  Too late.  You already tossed away a perfectly working sprinkler and the problem was with the hose!

Do you get my point?

If you have a history of neck trauma (from a car accident, a fall, poor posture etc.), have a history of neck pain, headaches, dizziness, ringing in your ears (tinnitus)... chances are you have a problem in your neck!

And if that problem is a cervical disc herniation, degenerative disc disease or spinal arthritis, this damage can put pressure on your cervical (neck) nerves and cause your carpal tunnel syndrome!

My suggestion... before jumping to the conclusion of the diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, have your neck examined... especially if you have the above mentioned symptoms or history of neck injuries.

Because if you don't,  you can have surgery on a healthy wrist and then create symptoms in your wrist due to post-surgical scar formation.  You're problem has to be addresses at the source, because if it isn't then not only will your symptoms get worse, but so will the damage in your neck!

If you want an expert opinion on neck pain and to have a complete and thorough examination to determine where your carpal tunnel syndrome is ACTUALLY stemming from, give The Toronto Spine Clinic a call to book your FREE consultation!  Our doctor is an expert in neck pain and he can accurately assess where your problem is originating from and determine the PROPER procedure to address your condition.

Call us at (905) 850-1007 or toll-free at 1-855-TSC-DISC (1-855-872-3472) today!

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to help us determine if you are a candidate for care.

For more information please visit our website at http:www.torontospineclinic.com

The Toronto Spine Clinic

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Vaughan, On. L4H 0K9

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