Carpal Tunnel OR your Cervical Spine? - Double Crush Syndrome - Upper Cervical Chiropractor Spokane
Channel: Dr Jeffrey Hannah
Date: 2023-02-22

Dr Jeffrey Hannah 
Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor
@ Clear Chiropractic Spokane

p | 509-315-8166
w | ClearChiroSpokane.com 

#uppercervical , #chiropractor, #spokane, #coeurdalene, #carpaltunnelsyndrome, #doublecrushsyndrome, #thoracicoutletsyndrome, #neckpain, #headaches  

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Although we commonly think of carpal tunnel syndrome - or any other condition that involves pain, tingling or numbness in your hands or fingers - it is essential to consider that the problem can actually be originating from upstream. 

Consider the bottom of a river that is not flowing well with the region in a drought. Yes, there is the water problem downstream ... but what if the reason for the drought it that there's been a new dam constructed or some other type of obstruction that can actually be found upstream?

It has been my experience that when dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome or other problems involving pain, numbness or tingling in your hands that compression at your wrist accounts for about 10% of the problem ... but that the majority of the problem can actually be found upstream:

15% as the nerve travels through your elbow and shoulder
25% as the nerve exits your lower neck (aka cervical spine)
50% as the spinal cord itself is stretched.

Especially if you experience hand problems on BOTH SIDES, unless you are dealing with something like rheumatoid arthritis, odds are that you are actually dealing with a COMMON ORIGIN that is not affecting just one nerve, but is actually affecting your spine when BOTH OF THOSE NERVES ARE STILL FOUND IN THE MIDLINE.

It is a phenomenon that is known as "Double Crush Syndrome," which in my experience occurs far more commonly than carpal tunnel syndrome alone. 

In other words, any time you experience numbness, pain or tingling in your hands, don't just focus on where they symptoms are: LOOK TO YOUR NECK FOR THE CAUSE.

If you suspect you are dealing with true carpal tunnel syndrome, the gold standard test is called a Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) tests, which is where needles and put directly into your nerves through your skin in order to measure their electrical activity. With true carpal tunnel syndrome, the NCV tests are normal until you get all the way to your hand, and then your scores suddenly drop. However, because of the location of the nerves as they travel through your neck, shoulder and arm, it is nearly impossible to get an accurate reading.

The bypass then is to take digital articular x-rays (DAX) or cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans of your neck to look for signs of wear and tear or obstructions of your joints that can be the actual cause of your underlying nerve problems.

Here is also where a unique approach to healthcare known as the Blair technique and upper cervical chiropractic can help so that you may not need to go down the neck or hand surgery route, but where you can heal from "carpal tunnel syndrome" naturally.

***

The Blair technique is a special division of general chiropractic that focuses on the alignment, motion and stability of the atlas vertebra because of its unique relationship with your nervous system, which controls every function in your body. Unlike general spinal manipulation, there is no twisting, cracking or stretching.

The Blair technique is a gentle and precise approach that utilizes a series of physical, neurological and diagnostic tests in order to provide the highest level of personalized healthcare.

When your atlas is aligned, your body has the potential to be healthy. However, when it is misalignment, your brain and body (simply put) are not able to work as efficiently as they otherwise would, and the inevitable consequence is where problems start to occur.

The big idea of the Blair technique is that by restoring the normal alignment, motion and stability at the junction between your head and neck, your own nervous system and its innate mechanisms are free and able to do what your body is designed to do: heal itself. And when that force is able to flow freely through your body from above-down, inside-out, anything it possible.

Call us to schedule an appointment at 509-315-8166.

*** 

Dr Jeffrey Hannah
Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor
@ Clear Chiropractic Spokane

https://clearchirospokane.com