There are body parts we seem never to appreciate until something happens to make us notice them. Pain, tingling and numbness in all but your pinky fingers can be a sign that you have carpal tunnel syndrome, a repetitive stress injury that occurs when there is pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. (A different nerve controls your pinky finger.) People who type a lot or work on an assembly line for a living can be susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome, as can individuals with hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, obesity, bone spurs, or pregnancy.
In general, it is a good idea to avoid surgery when possible. Keeping your wrist in a neutral position, using your whole hand and not just your fingers to hold objects, keeping your wrist straight with your hands higher than your wrists when you type and switching hands when you repeat movements are all examples of things you can do to take good care of your hands and wrists. Shaking out your hands, icing your wrist for 10 to 15 minutes once or twice an hour, and wearing a wrist splint at night to keep your wrist straight will alleviate pressure on the median nerve.
But if your symptoms continue to persist, it is a good idea to seek out a chiropractor. Your body is a machine, and all of the parts work together to keep you moving, functioning and feeling good. At DASHA®, we can make chiropractic adjustments to your wrist and arm, and even your upper spine that can work together to alleviate the pain of your carpal tunnel syndrome. Everything is connected, so if one part of your body is out of whack, it is connected to something else that also needs some work to help you get back to feeling like the healthy, best version of yourself.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms I describe above, please give us a call at DASHA® and ask us how to help you enhance your well-being.
DASHA® is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit www.dashawellness.com.
