What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

If you’ve been getting pins and needles feeling in your thumb, index and middle finger on one or both hands, or waking up at 3 am feeling this need to “shake” the tingling out of your hand - chances are you’re dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome - commonly referred to as CTS. You’re absolutely not alone, either; it is the most common nerve in the human body to become trapped, and we see it constantly here at Midland Chiropractic Care. Whether it’s from swinging a hammer or gripping tools all day on site, or being hunched over a keyboard in the same position for eight hours straight.

Ready for some good news? Most cases of carpal tunnel respond really well to simple conservative treatment, so if you’re unsure about the next steps, feel free to book an appointment (no referral needed), and we can do some assessment and give you personal advice on the next steps.

What is actually going on in there?

The carpal tunnel is a narrow tunnel (crazy, I know) of bone and ligament in your wrist. A bunch of tendons that help your wrist move run through it, as well as the median nerve. This tunnel can get inflamed and swollen by a lot of different things (maybe more than one applies to you), such as repetitive movements, overuse, and having your wrist in awkward, sustained positions for a long time, and then this is where the median nerve gets squeezed, causing the numbness, tingling, and sometimes even feeling weak when gripping objects. A common complaint I hear in the clinic is “I feel weak even holding my cup of coffee!”

We see it more often in occupations such as trade - think carpenters, electricians - or any jobs with vibration tools, repetitive rubbing and awkward wrist angles. It's also common in desk work due to poor keyboard setup and ergonomics, mouse positioning, and just … not moving the wrist enough throughout the day. Different causes, but the same tunnel is getting inflamed, and the median nerve is getting squeezed.

Step 1: Give it a break

Sounds simple enough, but people skip simple rest - you need to actually reduce the repetitive strain, even just for a couple of weeks.

• On the tools: Take more frequent short breaks, alternate hands where you can, and let your work mates know if you need to switch tasks for a bit.
• On the desk: Set a timer to get up and move every 30 minutes. You know how we chiros are harping on about how you need to get up and move your spine? Your wrist needs a break just as much as your back does, and it’s easy to forget when you get busy.

Step 2: Night splinting

Wearing a wrist splint at night, with your wrist in a neutral (straight) position, is one of the best-supported conservative treatments for mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. Most of us bend our wrist without realising when asleep, which can squeeze the carpal tunnel even more (this is often why symptoms can be the worst at night or first thing in the morning!)

You can grab a basic neutral-position wrist splint and wear it for at least 4-6 weeks, or if you’re unsure, book an appointment, and we can help talk you through the best low-cost options.

Step 3: Nerve and tendon gliding exercises

Gentle gliding exercises can help the median nerve move more freely through the carpal tunnel instead of getting ‘stuck’ and irritated. A simple one to start with:

1. Make a fist
2. Slowly straighten your fingers out flat
3. Bend your fingers down (like a claw)
4. Straighten again
5. Bend your wrist back gently
6. Return to neutral (straight)

Doing even a few gentle repetitions, a few times a day, should help - it shouldn’t hurt; if it does, back off and only go to the movements that feel comfortable. Absolutely confused? Book an appointment, and we can meet with you to develop a rehabilitation plan to help everything feel better!

Step 4: Sort out your ergonomics

This is often a huge missing piece - if the ergonomics flare up the wrist in the first place, it will never improve if they aren’t looked at and changed - especially if you’re in that position for 7+ hours daily. Unsure? Take a picture of your usual work desk setup and bring it to your appointment!

• For desk workers: Keyboard and mouse should be positioned so the wrist stays neutral/straight, not bent up or down. Elbows at roughly 90 degrees, with the wrist not sitting on the hard desk edge while typing, is a good start. A cheap wrist rest, or even a slight change in desk/chair height, can make a bigger difference than people expect, as it often seems too easy a solution.
• For trade and labour work: Where possible, use tools with a straighter grip design and remove excessive gripping force (a lot of us group tools way harder than we need to), and if you’re using vibrating tools regularly, look at anti-vibration gloves and non-negotiable regular scheduled breaks.

Step 5: Get your neck and shoulders checked, too

This is another key piece where chiropractic care fits in. The median nerve doesn’t just start at the wrist - it starts up in the neck and travels all the way down through your shoulder, elbow and forearm before ever reaching the carpal tunnel. Tightness of nerve irritations can happen anywhere along this pathway, so it’s important to make sure it’s not coming from somewhere else; it might even be irritated in more than one place! That is why, if you come in for your assessment appointment, we will always look at the whole arm and neck, not just ‘the sore spot.’ Also addressing joint restriction and muscle tension in the chain, alongside the wrist-specific stuff, may speed up recovery.

The bottom line & when it’s time to come see us (or a doctor)

Unsure if it's a carpal tunnel? Come see us, and we will conduct a full assessment and point you in the right direction, often with a combination of rehabilitation modalities and in-clinic treatment. Conservative care works great for a lot of people, but if:

• Symptoms have been going on for more than a few weeks despite trying conservative therapy
• Your numbness isn’t intermittent but constant
• You notice muscle wasting at the base of your thumb
• Grip strength is worsening

These may be signs of more advanced nerve compression, and we may write a referral for further imaging and assessment if indicated.

Carpal tunnel is common, but it’s very manageable when caught early, and the basics are applied, such as rest, night splinting, rehabilitation and sorting out your ergonomics. If you’ve been putting up with it for a while, don’t push through - book in and let us help you get to the bottom of it.

This blog is general information and isn’t a substitute for individual assessment - if you’re dealing with hand or wrist symptoms - come see us for a proper in-person assessment.