On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 12:07:23 -0700, Jim Stewart
wrote:

Dave Hinz wrote:
On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 11:17:34 -0700, Grant Erwin wrote:

Charles Spitzer wrote:


have an mri. i had numbness in a few fingers that turned out to be ruptured
disk in my neck, causing a vertebrae pinching the spinal cord. a
chiropractor pushing around the bones could paralyze you.


An MRI is the wrong diagnostic to start with. You want a nerve conduction test
in both wrists, this will positively diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. Other
common sources of pain in the hand are arthritis or nerve damage farther up
(shoulder, neck).


As much as I feel MRI is a wonderful thing (designed & built 'em for a
dozen years), yes, unless things have changed quite recently it wouldn't
be a primary test for diagnosing carpal tunnel. If the nerve conduction
in the wrist is OK, then start working upstream to find where the signal
is having problems getting through. MRI is fantastic for visualizing,
for instance, a bulging disk impinging on a spinal cord, but until you
know the signal is good above the wrist, it's not time to go there yet.

That said, an EMG hurts like a son of a bitch, for several days later
even. Combining high voltage, and every muscle in your extremity, make
for a very sore extremity.


I've anecdotally heard that chiropractors can sometimes help with the kind of
back injuries middle aged workers often get, which is basically a too-weak
muscle going into spasm mode.


Yes, muscles in spasm can benefit from physical manipulation.


I have never heard they were otherwise anything
but scam artists. In 52 years I have never darkened their door nor paid for
anyone else to. I guess I don't believe in 'em much.


I've had good luck over the years, but to be honest, a massage therapist
who does deep tissue work works better for me. The bones are out of
alignment because of the muscles; don't just realign the bones, fix the
muscular problems.

Agreed. I had classic symptoms of carpal tunnel
in my right hand, to the point where I couldn't
steer the car or move the mouse. The sports
massage guy next door had me fixed in 2-3 days
and it hasn't come back.




I had a physical therapist with strong, skilled hands work on my hands
and wrists. He would actually move the bones. This was a tremendous
help in getting scar tissue to stretch. Which led to vast improvements
in flexibility and grip.
ERS