Are You Tired Of Struggling With Constant Hand & Wrist Pain?
Numbness in your fingers. Tingling that wakes you up at night. A grip that isn't as strong as it used to be. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone, and you don't have to just live with it.
That kind of nerve pain in your hand usually has a clear, treatable cause, and at Shaw Spine & Sport, we help patients get to the root of it instead of just masking the symptoms. For many people, surgery isn't the first, or only, answer.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Your wrist and hand are built from a dense network of small muscles, tendons, and nerves that all have to move in coordination for something as simple as typing, gripping a steering wheel, or buttoning a shirt.
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve, which runs through a narrow passage in your wrist called the carpal tunnel, gets compressed. That compression is often the result of repetitive strain: hours at a keyboard, repetitive motions on the job, or simply poor wrist positioning over time. As the muscles and connective tissue around the wrist tighten and form adhesions, they can crowd that nerve and trigger symptoms like:
- Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers
- A dull ache or tightness through the wrist and forearm
- Weakness or a tendency to drop things
- Symptoms that are worse at night or after repetitive use
Left unaddressed, carpal tunnel syndrome tends to get worse, not better, which is why catching it early matters.
How Our Care Helps
Our care addresses carpal tunnel syndrome by treating the whole picture, not just the wrist. Because nerve compression is frequently driven by soft tissue restrictions in the forearm, wrist, and even the neck, an effective plan usually includes:
- Manual therapy to break down the soft tissue adhesions that are crowding the nerve
- Manipulation or mobilization to restore normal mobility in the wrist, hand, and forearm
- Ergonomic guidance so the habits that caused the problem don't just cause it again
- Targeted exercises to rebuild strength and flexibility once the nerve has room to move freely
The goal isn't a quick, temporary fix. It's giving your nerve the space it needs so your hand can actually get better.
Areas We Serve
Shaw Spine & Sport is located at 2555 Berkshire Pkwy, Clive, IA 50325, and proud to help patients throughout the greater Des Moines metro find relief from carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve-related conditions, including Clive, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Waukee, and the surrounding communities.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
If you've never seen a chiropractor for wrist or hand pain, it's normal to wonder what's actually involved. Here's how we approach it:
- A thorough assessment. We start by understanding your symptoms, how long you've had them, and what's aggravating them, along with a hands-on exam of your wrist, hand, forearm, and neck to find exactly where the nerve is being compressed.
- A personalized treatment plan. Based on what we find, we'll walk you through a plan that combines manual therapy, soft tissue work, and any ergonomic or exercise changes you need, and explain why each piece matters for your specific case.
- Measure and advance your progress. As your symptoms improve, we track your progress and adjust the plan so you're not just symptom-free short term, but building the strength and habits to keep it that way.
You'll leave your first visit with a clear understanding of what's causing your symptoms and a concrete next step, not just a diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. Many patients see meaningful relief through conservative, non-surgical care, especially when it's caught before nerve damage becomes severe. Surgery is typically considered when conservative treatment hasn't helped or symptoms are advanced.
It depends on how long the compression has been present and how severe it is. Some patients notice improvement within a few visits; others need a longer course of care to fully resolve tightness and rebuild strength.
No. While computer use is a common contributor, carpal tunnel syndrome can also come from other repetitive hand-intensive work, sports, pregnancy-related swelling, or previous wrist injuries.
It can, especially if the original contributing habits, like poor wrist positioning or unaddressed repetitive strain, aren't corrected. That's why we build ergonomic changes and home exercises into every treatment plan.
Ready to Get Relief From Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
You don't have to keep working around numb fingers and an aching wrist. Our team at Shaw Spine & Sport will assess what's actually driving your symptoms and build a plan to get you back to full use of your hand.
