by Dr. P. Carl Rafey
24. October 2011 09:46
A patient presented to my office this week complaining of newly acquired "carpal tunnel syndrome," affecting his left pinky finger. He stated it came on three days prior and it feels like his pinky has been "asleep." His biggest concern was that he did not want to have surgery to fix this.
This case was not a case of carpal tunnel syndrome as that is a condition affecting the median nerve which shows symptoms in the thumb and the first two fingers of the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome presents as numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers. This patient noted only the pinky finger was being affected.
After a detailed case history and examination the cause of this patient's symptoms originated in the lower cervical spine more specifically affecting the ulnar nerve originating from the C8-T1 spinal nerve roots. The ulnar nerve, the nerve controlling the actions and sensations of the pinky finger, was being compressed or irritated in the region in which it was leaving the spinal cord. A specific chiropractic adjustment resolved all symptoms within a matter of minutes.
If you are dealing with numbness or tingling in your fingers and or hands I recommend you consult your physician or chiropractor to further analyze your condition.
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