Why Do My Hands Go Numb At Night?
October 17, 2011
Let me first start by saying numbness can be very annoying!
Years ago I injured my neck in a car accident. As a result of the accident I suffered a herniated disc to my cervical spine. It caused severe pain in my neck, down into my shoulder blade and down my arm. The pain was relentless but what really bothered me the most was that my left hand was constantly tingly and numb.
SPINAL DISC / NERVE INJURY
Commonly I get asked by my patients, “Doc, why do my hands go numb at night?” Well…a lot of times numbness can occur in the hand or hands as a result of an irritated nerve in the neck. Our brain transmits messages to our spinal cord via our spinal nerves. These nerves that exit tiny holes in our spinal column (made up of bones and discs) run to our extremities. So, an irritated nerve in the neck can cause the hand to go numb or tingly. This is treated almost every day in my office with
non-invasive painless procedures. Being I have personal experience with this I sort of have the blueprint to recovery of that annoying numbness.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Another reason that someone’s hands can go numb is as a result of overuse. Someone who uses their hands frequently for their trade, hobby or sport can develop a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress/strain injury. Back to the anatomy lesson…those nerves that I described earlier that run from the neck into the arms branch into smaller nerves in the arm, wrist and hands. Particularly in the wrist there is a nerve that often gets irritated known as the median nerve. There is a very, very narrow tunnel in which the median nerve as well as tendons and blood vessels
will run through called the carpal tunnel. (this tunnel is referred to as “carpal” because the small bones in the wrist as called the carpal bones) Medical research has shown that cold laser and light therapy are non-invasive painless technologies can offer substantial relief from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Other conditions where a patient will complain of numbness is as a result of Type 2 Diabetes, Lymes Disease and Syphilis.
When considering treatment for burning pain and numbness, our chiropractic and physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ offer state-of-the art technologies to offer relief from numbness. Our physicians come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).
Physical Therapy and Laser Therapy for Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow
June 17, 2010
You don’t have to be a frequent golfer or tennis player to experience the aches and pains associated with tennis and golfer’s elbow. In fact, any strenuous activity that involves the tendons on the elbow can lead to these painful syndromes.
So what exactly is tennis and golfer’s elbow? While these injuries may occur at the elbow, the tendons involved are different: tennis elbow is caused by the degeneration of the tendon that attaches the bone on the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow affects the tendons on the inside of the elbow. Sufferers of tennis and golfer’s elbow often experience significant pain directly on the elbow during heavy exercise and lifting; in fact, even typing or opening a door can cause a great deal of discomfort. Both injuries are equally painful, and require physical therapy in order to treat it.
In addition to physical therapy, laser therapy has become an increasingly popular method of reducing and eliminating tennis and golfer’s elbow. Studies have shown that laser therapy can lessen elbow pain and discomfort, allowing sufferers to resume physical activity again. Laser therapy can also reduce inflammation and increase movement within the affected tendon, which gives sufferers some much-needed relief from elbow aches and pains.
For long-term benefits and solutions, experts still regard physical therapy as the best option for tennis and golfer’s elbow. Physical therapy for the affected elbow tendon will involve a range of wrist stretching and gentle motion exercises, which will keep the tendons from atrophying. In fact, muscular atrophy can actually heighten the pain and discomfort of tennis and golfer’s elbow, which is why experts recommend physical therapy over simply ceasing to use the affected area.
When undergoing laser and/or physical therapy, health experts also recommend the following tips to get the most out of your sessions:
- Ice the affected area after your physical therapy session. This reduces painful swelling and will help your tendons to heal faster.
- If you’re in pain from a session, it’s fine to take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication and aspirin. Just be sure to check with your doctor before taking any pain medication.
- Keeping the affected area in a brace will help to support and protect the tendon; however, make sure that the brace isn’t wrapped too tightly, as this can cut off blood flow to the elbow.
When considering treatment for tennis and/or golfer’s elbow, our physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).
New Research on the “Double Crush” link to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
September 16, 2009
Bayonne and Scotch Plains Chiropractor Comments: Carpal tunnel syndrome patients often complain of neck pain. The same nerves that go through the wrist tunnel, emerge from the neck and can be compressed or irritated at the neck joints. If the nerve is pinched in these two areas, it has been referred to as a “double crush.” Because of this irritation at the neck, focusing only on the wrist for treatment may not be a comprehensive solution to this often debilitating problem.
Recent research (Russel BS. Chiro & Osteo 2008,162doi:10.1186/1746-1340-16-2) has reviewed the evidence for and against this linkage of two problems. Dr. Russel concludes if the wrist symptoms only involve sensation, rather than weakness, then the double crush link may be more tenuous. However, if you have a “motor” problem with a nerve, and experience weakness or loss of grip strength, then the implication of a problem also at the neck appears to be more relevant.
However, since many patients with carpal tunnel will also have neck pain, a trial of chiropractic care at both the wrist and neck is a conservative strategy that seems prudent and should be considered.
If your carpal tunnel symptoms developed after a neck injury or you also have pain into the upper arm or shoulder, these may be clues that your nerve is irritated in more than one location.
Getting to the cause of a problem, rather than just treating the symptoms, is a hallmark of specific chiropractic care. We can assist you with doing corrective wrist strengthening exercises and stretches, which may relieve pressure at the wrist tunnel. Some patients can benefit from nutritional counseling and even weight-loss strategies, since excessive weight is a risk factor for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Other patients may need simple ergonomic instruction such as modifying your posture at a workstation, to take pressure off of both the neck and wrist.
The important thing is get properly diagnosed, with x-rays if needed, to get a full and comprehensive picture of the actual problem. Simply limiting wrist motion with a splint may not be enough to make the wrist and hand both pain-free and functional. Many people only consider surgery or daily medications as their only alternatives and fail to consider natural and drug-free chiropractic care
To learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome, sign up for a free report, or click here to register for a Free, In- Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, feel free to give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 Value).
Article by Dr. Eric Chludzinski, DC. Dr. Chludzinski is the founder of Hudson Center for Spinal Care located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr. Chludzinski services both Hudson County and Union County in New Jersey
New Office: Bayonne Chiropractor Opens second Chiropractic office in Scotch Plains
August 6, 2009
I just wanted to write today to follow up on my new Scotch Plains Chiropractic Office. We opened last month, but I just thought I’d share some of the new pictures that I took so you can see how nice it is. My patients that live over this way are very excited about being able to come to this office instead of trekking out to Bayonne for their treatments.
We are currently working there on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and even Saturdays! To me, the best part is the convenience. It’s right off of the major highways and there is a ton of easy access. Also, the parking situation is great, so during inclement weather this will not pose any issues.
As for the treatments that are available here, we have a DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression Machine, we offer Laser Light Therapy for Carpal Tunnel and other joint and ligament problems, physical therapy, and of course, low force instrument chiropractic adjusting is also available. Check out the pictures below, and comment to let me know what you think.
As a special offer for the new office being open, click here to register for a Free, In- Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, feel free to give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 Value).
Article by Dr. Eric Chludzinski, DC. Dr. Chludzinski is the founder of Hudson Center for Spinal Care located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic.
Should you have surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
July 1, 2009
Believe it or not, I get a lot of post carpal tunnel surgery patients coming to my office because their pain has returned, and often has increased after the surgery. There is a pretty simple explanation. The surgery involves cutting open the wrist, and anytime you have surgery, you will inevitably get some amount of scar tissue as a result. The carpal tunnel region is very limited in space and so the amount of room the nerves and tendons have to pass through is already tight. Post surgery scar tissue can actually cause the tendons in that region to become bulkier or thicker, which tends to cause further irritation, the same kind of irritation the surgery is supposed to be curing. So many patients do experience post-surgery symptoms very similar to their original carpal tunnel symptoms.
Whether you have had surgery or not, our office has a therapy program tailored to each individual, and we’ve seen amazing long-term success with patients that suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The first thing we do with any new patient is make sure your diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is correct. After that, and depending on the location of your pain (some people also get pain or irritation in their shoulder and neck as well as the wrist and hand), we develop a therapy program specifically tailored to you. We will use cold laser therapy to decrease the inflammation in the nerve and tendon so the nerve is not entrapped, and then back it up with a lot of rehab. The rehab is really what sets up apart from other Carpal Tunnel Syndrome treatments. After we reduce inflammation, we work on building strength in the muscles and tendons in the wrist and arm to make sure the injury doesn’t reoccur.
What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Constant pain in the wrist or hand, and/or numbing or tingling in fingers is the most common symptom. Most patients with this condition have a very difficult time performing normal activities like buttoning a shirt or grasping a cup of coffee. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is irritation of the median nerve, which runs along with tendons from the neck all the way to down to the wrist.
To learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome, sign up for a free report, or click here to register for a Free, In- Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, feel free to give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location call us at 908-490-1880. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 Value).
Article by Dr. Eric Chludzinski, DC. Dr. Chludzinski is the founder of New Jersey Pain & Numbness Relief Center located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic.
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