Carpal Tunnel Sydrome
The carpal tunnel is the bony wrist opening and it is where the median nerve moves into the hand, giving you feeling in your fingers and hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome creates numbness and tingling when the nerve becomes compressed by muscles, causing great pain and an inability to hold things in your hands.
Where to Work
The median nerve stems from the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus. Any disk herniation to the cervical spine at C5-C8 or around T1 can create numbness and decreased strength in the hand. Massage needs to be done mainly to the neck area, upper arm and then down the arm. Even though the pain is in the wrist, that is not usually the problem area. Any repetitive actions of the arm or neck can create the syndrome. When contracted muscles push against the nerve, it irritates it and inflames it. At this point the nerve can be so inflamed it cannot get through the carpal tunnel without creating pain.
Solution
The massage needs to start at the neck area. Heat the neck area and arm muscles, then apply a liniment and stretching the neck in the opposite direction. Massaging the neck and arm and getting the death grip off the nerve will bring relief to the hand. Make sure to work down the arm and address any sore or tender areas as the compression can be anywhere from the neck to the wrist.
Tags: carpal tunnel, neck area, median nerve, tunnel syndrome, wrist flexed