Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Can I Diagnosis It Myself?

We are so used to fixing everyday problems ourselves in society today, that we sometimes do this when it comes to health care. The "can do" American spirit of "pulling yourself up by your boot straps" is alive and well. We are bombarded by advertising messages that tell us if we have pain in the wrist or back, then just go to the drug store and get some pills. The messages seem to make sense. If I have a problem with my wrist, then it must be carpal tunnel syndrome, right?

Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that hand and wrist pain or numbness can come from any different causes-some even very serious diseases such as cancer. Even a disease such as diabetes can show up as wrist or hand pain. There are also different types of arthritis that can show similar symptoms. Only through x-rays and laboratory tests can these distinctions be made.

Also at issue is the fact that long nerves run from you neck and spinal cord and down your arm to the hand. An injury anywhere along the course of this nerve, could make you feel pain in your fingers or hand. And then, of course, there are wrist traumas or repetitive motion injuries that can further complicate the picture.

This should illustrate to you how important a thorough diagnosis is before deciding on a cause for a problem and a course of action to get it resolved. Even a detailed history by a doctor will not be enough to determine if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. So if you've been diagnosed with this condition and the doctor failed to examine your wrist, the diagnosis can be incorrect. An astute doctor will use the history of the pain combined with very specific tests to determine how your wrist functions. We do these examinations too, but also include an analysis of the neck region, which can cause irritation to a nerve, that then produces hand symptoms.

Once you get the diagnosis correct, there are many options for treatment. Medications, splints, and surgery are tried by many with varying degrees of success. For those who want a more natural, and drug and surgery-free alternative, then chiropractic care is an excellent option to consider. Yours in health.

-Dr. Roman

PS. For more information about our office, check out our website at http://www.drjamesroman.com/

WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE

Week of: May 19th, 2008

Mental Attitude: Being Optimistic in middle age increases life span at least 7.5 years--even after accounting for age, gender, socioeconomic status and physical health. What's behing the hardiness? Being optimistic minimizes the destructive effects of stress. Yale University, 2007.

Diet: Dietary Changes have the potential to decrease the risk of death and illness. 365,000 deaths every year result from nutrition related diseases like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Journal Watch Cardiology, May 2005

Exercise: Watching TV. Americans spend nearly 10 hours a day watching TV, surfing the Internet, reading and listening to music. 4.5 hours will be spent watching TV, more than 1500 hours per person in a year. US Census Bureau, 2007

Chiropractic: Health benefits of a chiropractic adjustment other than pain relief.

Studies reported improvements in neurocognitive function, visual field blind spot analysis, overall dance performance, visual acuity, salivary cortisol levels, muscle strength, health-related behaviors and savings in health care costs. JVSR, April 2004

Quote: "The doctor of the future will interest patients in the care of the human frame."

-Thomas Edison

WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE

Week of: MONDAY MAY 12th, 2008

Mental Attitude:

A laugh a day keeps the doctor away. 70% of people who saw a stressful movie, decreased their blood flow by 35%. 95% of people who saw a funny movie increased their blood flow by 22%, equivalent to a 15-30 minute workout. Laughing releases endorphins, which counteracts the effects of stress hormones, boosts the immune system and decreases inflammation. Washington Post, March 2003

Diet:

How Cholesterol Damages Your Heart.... High blood cholesterol contributes to atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol limits the activity of transforming growth factor-beta (a protein protecting the aorta and other vessels from damage caused by hypertension and high cholesterol). TFG-beta suppresses tumors and when the protective effects are lowered by high cholesterol, it can increase the risk of cancer. Journal of Cell Sciences, Sept. 2007

CHIROPRACTIC:

1. The adjustment overcomes resistances and restrictions of your spine.

2. The adjustment stimulates nerve receptors in and around the joints of your spine for proper motion.

QUOTE:

"The best exercise is pushing yourself away from the table."

Welcome To Dr. Roman's Health Blog

For all my patients and friends, welcome to Advanced Health & Spine Center's Blog page. I've started this page for my patients and friends to read up on health topics and stay informed about current improvements in health care. For all new patients, welcome to our blog page. Here you will find information about chiropractic care, nutrition, current articles about health care, and information regarding our office. Be on the look out for video, pictures, and testimonials about our office. I hope you all enjoy the site. Yours in health. -Dr. Roman