Published: July 07, 2009 08:38 am      

Distinguishing CTS

Dr. Heather Wright, Democrat Columnist

One of the most common hand/wrist complaints I see in my office is patients coming in with pain that they think is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  Many people have heard of this condition, but don’t know how to differentiate it from other hand/wrist conditions. Contrary to common belief, any old hand/wrist pain is not necessarily carpal tunnel (CTS). CTS has a very distinct distribution of pain – the front or palm side of the hand in the thumb, and 1 ½ fingers beside it. In other words, if your pain is on the back of your hand, that’s not carpal tunnel! 

The Pain can progress up the arm into the elbow, can become a tingling or numb sensation, and it can eventually cause an inability to make a fist, turn a doorknob, or hold a coffee cup easily. Some patients have described it as a sensation like the fingers are swollen and uncoordinated. In advanced stages, sometimes we will even see wasting of the muscles of the thumb. 

The presence of any combination of these symptoms may indicate you have carpal tunnel syndrome. The good news is that this condition responds well to conservative care in most people. A therapeutic approach consisting of wrist and hand chiropractic adjustments, cold laser therapy, bracing, exercises and stretches is an excellent treatment alternative to surgery. Here’s good news for patients who have already had surgery and are now having problems with carpal tunnel syndrome again: a conservative approach can still be successful at helping reduce the symptoms and decrease the effects of scar tissue from the injury and surgery. It is important to note that a neck or elbow nerve entrapment may mimic carpal tunnel syndrome and a complete exam is necessary to differentiate these problems.

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“Back to Health” is published on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Questions may be sent to Dr. Wright, B.S., D.C., CCEP, 702B Eureka, Weatherford, TX 76086 or by e-mail at hwright@ev1.net.