The Carpal Tunnel pain that many experience in their hand and wrist can actually be a combination of nerve problems in the wrist, elbow and spinal nerves in the lower neck and shoulder. There are two at-home tests that you can perform:

Test 1 - Phalen's Maneuver

The most helpful test for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is Phalen's Maneuver. Firmly hold the backs of your hands together with your fingers pointing down, while keeping your arms parallel to the floor. If within a minute, you experience numbness, tingling, pain or a combination, you likely have nerve involvement.

Test 2 - Tinel's sign

Another test is Tinel's sign. Use your finger to repeatedly tap the volar carpal ligament, the ligament just under the skin in the center of your wrist. If the tapping elicits numbness, tingling or pain, then you may well have carpal tunnel syndrome. Often, chiropractic care can be very helpful in resolving this type of problem.

Pain of any kind, at any age, is a sign that something isn't right. Pain is the way your body signals that a limit has been reached or a problem has developed. Since we can adapt, minor aches and pains are often shrugged off. While they may go away, if the underlying problem remains unattended, the problem can slowly worsen until it becomes more difficult and expensive to resolve. A chiropractor can diagnose the source of the pain and alleviate it for your long-term comfort and health!

First, chiropractors don't dispense drugs. We rely on natural methods. Muscle relaxers and even the most common over-the-counter pain medications fail on two counts. First, while convenient, they don't address the underlying cause of your problem. Second, side effects such as addiction, kidney failure, liver damage and even death can result. When properly applied, ice can have an analgesic effect without the side effects associated with pain medications.