Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal bones are found in the wrist, along with ligaments and fibrous tissues keeping them all together. Through the middle is a tunnel through which the median nerve and several tendons pass. If this tunnel becomes swollen then pressure is brought to bear on the enclosed nerves and tendons.

Numbness and tingling in the hands is the most common sign of carpal tunnel syndrome as these are signs of nerve compression. In dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome, the carpal tunnel is not usually the originating source of the problem, but rather a secondary. Thus when surgery is performed on the carpal tunnel, the symptoms are reduced but the cause is not gone and so symptoms flares up elsewhere.
The best place to start is with the thoracic outlet at the base of the neck. The size of the thoracic outlet is shortened when 'trigger points' - a contracted knot in the muscle fibres - shortens the scalene muscles. These muscles are located in the front of the neck and aid us, primarily, in breathing. When shortened they raise the first rib up against the collarbone and thus constrict on the nerves and blood vessels that pass through them, which causes numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers. Other muscles throughout the shoulder, upper arm and forearm can also compress on the nerves and blood vessels causing, or adding to, the numbness and tingling. But let's start with the Scalenes... they are a primary offender!

Does this sound like your pain patterns? 

If so, please let me know so that I can give you some things you can do to start relieving it yourself.

Symptoms diagram taken from "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" by Clair Davies