There is one major impeding force we encounter in our daily lives, that we may not even notice is doing any damage – electronics.
Hand-held devices and desktops can cause plenty of grief when it comes to neck and back pain. Doctors have now begun to diagnose teens with “text neck,” a modern spine ailment that has become increasingly common with frequent phone usage.
Carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger are also typical conditions seen when it comes to gaming or constant scrolling through news feed after news feed. Our dependence on these devices may have more negative side effects than we realize.
Trigger finger specifically deals with one or multiple fingers getting stuck while bending, whereas carpal tunnel can show symptoms throughout the entire hand and wrist. Both may cause numbness, burning, tingling, and “shock-like” sensations. Both should be taken seriously, as they tend to only worsen overtime. Symptoms sometimes become tricky to measure with carpal tunnel, as it becomes difficult to differentiate between this specific nerve pain and an occasional flare up. If you tend to notice this more when holding a remote or smartphone, your body might just be telling you to take a break.
Fun fact: there is an actual passageway that travels through your wrist called the carpal tunnel. When the median nerve is squeezed again and again as it travels through the wrist, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) begins to surface. If you notice a frequent, long-standing pain within your arm, wrist or fingers, you may want to consider seeking treatment. A Chiropractor’s goal in this instance is to avoid any possible prescription medication or surgery. “Oftentimes we find a subluxation in the wrist bones pressing on the nerves traveling to the hand. An adjustment helps re-position the bone and takes pressure off of the nerve, providing relief” comments Dr. Christie. Visiting your Chiropractor will help relieve intense tingling and numbness, and often eliminate CTS altogether. To further prevent CTS from occurring, Dr. Christie recommends avoiding extreme flexion and extension with the wrists which can create instability.
On the other hand (no pun intended), Trigger Finger appears when the protective shield surrounding a tendon within a specific finger 
becomes irritated or infected. Again, symptoms between CTS and trigger finger are incredibly common, but this pain stems from one direct area. Typically this causes a popping sensation or audible clicking while moving your finger. In severe cases, people will be unable to straighten or “unlock” their finger from a bent position. This is often caused by repeated actions such as gripping and working conditions that may require excessive use of hand movements. It is also more commonly seen amongst individuals with arthritis and diabetes.
Two different chiropractic techniques are usually introduced in this case: Active Release Technique (ART) and Graston. These are practiced in order to relieve tension surrounding your tendon, as well as heal any soft tissue damage. Dr. Jake performs Graston at our East location, and says “it allows us to separate and break down collagen and stretch the connective tissues and muscle fibers, basically “reinjuring the area.” This then increases blood flow to and from this area, and ultimately sparks change in chronic muscle holding patterns, improving range of motion, and helping with pain reduction.” Plus, Graston technique can be applied in many more areas! Just ask for a general assessment to get started.
Early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions are going to lessen chances of surgery or other intense solutions to what could be a minor problem. Chiropractic eliminates medication and allows your body to heal naturally, avoiding invasive treatments. Your chiropractor may also recommend rehabilitation stretching to rebuild strength and increase range of motion. At Exuberance Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we have seen a number of patients struggling to bypass the harsh symptoms of CTS and trigger finger. Spinal adjustments are even a solution for your teen’s “text neck!”
If you have questions or concerns regarding what you may be experiencing, give us a call and schedule an appointment today! There’s no need to put up with the pain any longer.
Exuberance East | 16023 Elmhurst Ln Lakeville, MN (952)-435-3346
[Off of Pilot Knob Rd & Cty Rd 46]
Exuberance West | 17787 Kenwood Trl Lakeville, MN (952)-435-3345
[Off of Kenwood Trl & Hwy 50]