CARPAL TUNNEL: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS & LASTING RELIEF

Dealing with numbness, tingling, or aching in your wrist and hand?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is extremely common in people who type, lift, grip, or work with their hands — but what most people don’t know is that many cases of “carpal tunnel” aren’t actually carpal tunnel at all.
Often, the real issue starts higher up the chain.

Why Carpal Tunnel Happens

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed at the wrist. But nerve compression can also be influenced by problems in the:

• forearm muscles

• elbow

• shoulder

• neck (cervical spine)

This is why symptoms vary from person to person — and why treating ONLY the wrist rarely gives lasting relief.

Common contributors include:

• Repetitive typing or gripping

• Poor workstation setup

• Weak or overactive forearm muscles

• Forward head posture

• Nerve tension originating from the neck or upper back

• Previous wrist or elbow injuries

Signs It’s Getting Worse

If you’re experiencing any of the following, it’s time to take action before it becomes a long-term issue:

• Tingling or numbness into the thumb, index, or middle finger

• Aching in the wrist or forearm

• Hand weakness or dropping objects

• Symptoms at night or first thing in the morning

• Pain that gets worse with typing, gripping, or lifting

These symptoms rarely improve on their own — and waiting often leads to scar tissue buildup or chronic nerve irritation.

Why Carpal Tunnel Is Often Misdiagnosed

Many patients come in frustrated because they were told they had carpal tunnel…
but their “carpal tunnel”:

• only affects part of the hand

• moves up the arm

• or comes with neck/shoulder tension

This is usually a sign the problem isn’t the wrist — it’s the nerve pathway higher up.

Common alternative causes:

• Pronator Teres Syndrome (median nerve trapped in the forearm)

• Cervical Radiculopathy (nerve irritation in the neck)

• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (nerve compression under the collarbone)

Treating the wrist alone won’t help if the real compression isn’t there.

How New Edge Spine & Sport Treats Carpal Tunnel

At New Edge, we don’t just look at the wrist — we assess the entire nerve chain to find the root cause.

Your treatment may include:

• Soft-tissue work for the wrist, forearm, and elbow

• Nerve-glide and mobility drills

• Strengthening for grip, forearm, and postural stabilizers

• Wrist/hand joint adjustments

• Neck and shoulder assessment + correction

• Ergonomic/workstation modifications

• Take-home rehab exercises customized to your pattern

This combination helps restore mobility, reduce nerve pressure, and prevent symptoms from returning.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your first appointment includes:

• A detailed movement + nerve pathway assessment

• Orthopedic and neurological testing

• Wrist, elbow, neck, and shoulder evaluation

• A hands-on treatment session

• A personalized rehab plan you can start immediately

Most patients feel improvement in their first 1–3 visits.

When to Seek Help Right Away

Book an appointment if you have:

• Tightness or tingling spreading up your arm

• Weak grip strength

• Numbness that wakes you up at night

• Symptoms lasting more than 2–3 weeks

• Increasing pain with computer or manual work

You don’t want this becoming a chronic nerve injury — early care leads to faster recovery.

📞 Ready to Fix Your Carpal Tunnel for Good?

If you’re tired of dealing with wrist pain, numbness, or hand weakness, we can help you get back to work, lifting, and daily life without discomfort.

New Edge Spine & Sport
📍 321 Regis Ave Ste 1, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
📞 412-386-8285
🌐 www.newedgespineandsport.com