NUMBNESS/TINGLING IN ARM-   Numbness and tingling in the hand and arm has many causes.  One common cause that we see at InHealth is cervical spine disc degeneration.  Cervical disc degeneration is a common cause of neck pain, most frequently felt as a stiff neck.  In addition to having the low-grade pain of a stiff or inflexible neck, many patients with cervical disc degeneration have numbness, tingling, or even weakness in the neck, arms, or shoulders as a result of nerves in the cervical area becoming irritated or compressed.  For example, a compressed nerve root in the C6-C7 segment could result in weakness in the triceps and forearms, wrist drop and altered sensation in the middle fingers or fingertips.  The good news is that Chiropractic has a very good track record of treating cervical spine disc degeneration and can frequently help with symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arm.  In some cases, the pressure on the nerves is severe enough to warrant surgery.  Dr. Rindal takes each patient through a comprehensive exam to identify the source of the problem and will help you determine whether or not Chiropractic and/or Active Release Technique will be of benefit.  In most cases, his conservative approach is extremely effective. If he cannot help you, he will be very honest in letting you know that a different approach may be better.  He works closely with other healthcare providers that will either co-manage treatment or may be better suited to treat cases that may need surgical intervention.

 SYMPTOMS-  Symptoms may include stiff or inflexible neck, numbness, tingling, or even weakness in the neck, arms or shoulders.  Symptoms typically on the outside of the Elbow.

GOLFERS ELBOW-    Also known as Medial Epicondylopathy, this condition is often the result of chronic wrist flexion and/or overuse of the wrist flexors, which is catagorized as a repetitive stress injury.  It is characterized by inflammation and localized pain at the medial (inner) aspect of the elbow and is increased with wrist flexion.  Climbers tend to experience "Golfers Elbow", although anyone who must hold the wrist still or bent forwards for long periods of time (i.e. while using a computer mouse, performing a back hand, or painting) may overuse the forearm flexors. Treatment modalities are similar to that of lateral epicondylitis and also involve neural stretching, to prevent damage to the ulnar nerve that courses across the medial elbow surface, Graston Technique, and Active Release Technique.  Often times, the neck and elbow are involved, so Chiropractic spinal and extremity adjusting is frequently used in conjunction with soft-tissue treatment; rehabilitative exercises are always a paramount component of the recovery  process.

SYMPTOMS-  Symptoms may include stiff or inflexible neck, numbness, tingling, or even weakness in the neck, arms or shoulders.  Symptoms typically on inside of the elbow (elbow pain).

TENNIS ELBOW-  "Tennis elbow" is a common term for a condition caused by overuse of arm and forearm muscles that results in forearm pain and often catagorized as a repetitive stress injury. You don't have to play tennis to get this, but the term came into use because it can be a significant problem for some tennis players.

Tennis elbow is caused by either abrupt or subtle injury of the muscle and tendon area around the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow specifically involves the area where the muscles and tendons of the forearm attach to the outside bony area (called the lateral epicondyle) of the elbow. Your doctor may call this condition lateral epicondylosis. Another common term, "golfer's elbow," refers to the same process occurring on the inside of the elbow -- what your doctor may call medial epicondylosis. Overuse injury can also affect the back or posterior part of the elbow as well.  Active Release Technique, Graston Technique and Chiropractic spinal and extremity adjusting are very effective treatment strategies used in the management of this condition.  Additionally a home stretching and exercise program is a very important component of the rehabilitation and prevention program.

SYMPTOMS- Pain slowly increasing around the outside of the elbow. Less often, pain may develop suddenly.
Pain is worse when shaking hands or squeezing objects or pushing on the back of the wrist.
Pain is made worse by stabilizing or moving the wrist with force. Examples include lifting, using tools, pouring coffee, opening jars, or even handling simple utensils such as a toothbrush or knife and fork (elbow pain).

RADIUS/ULNA SUBLUXATION-   An injury to the Elbow can result in misalignment or fixation of the two bones of the forearm.  This can create pain and weakness of the muscles surrounding the joint and forearm pain.  It often times leads to compensation injuries to the wrist and shoulder.

SYMPTOMS- Pain, swelling, and weakness to the elbow,, weakness of the biceps and/or triceps.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME-   Carpal tunnel syndrome describes an irritation of the synovial membranes around the tendons in the carpal tunnel. This inflammation results in pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve travels from the forearm into the hand through a 'tunnel' in your wrist. The bottom and sides of this tunnel are formed by wrist bones and the top of the tunnel is covered by a strong band of connective tissue or ligament. This tunnel also contains nine tendons that connect muscles to bones and bend your fingers and thumb. These tendons are covered with a lubricating membrane called synovium which may enlarge and swell under some circumstances. If the swelling is sufficient it may cause the median nerve to be pressed up against this strong ligament which may result in numbness, tingling in your hand, clumsiness or pain, all classic signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.  However, can be effectively treated using conservative treatment methods.  Furthermore, this condition is often misdiagnosed and may actually be compression of the Median Nerve by a muscle(s) above the wrist, compression of a spinal nerve in the neck, or by scar tissue at the transverse carpal ligament.  Dr. Kevin has helped dozens of patients avoid carpal tunnel syndrome through an integrated approach using Chiropractic, Active Release Technique protocols, Graston Technique, Kinesio Tape, and therapeutic exercises.  He has gained a reputation with many Orthopedists, Neurologists, and General Practitioners as "the last stop before surgery"  for repetitive stress injuries.

SYMPTOMS-

•   Numbness and tingling in the hands
•   Decreased sensation in the thumb, and first two fingers
•   Tingling over the wrist
•   Pain when holding the wrist in a bent position for a period of time
•   Positive nerve conduction test (determines the pressure on the median nerve)

JAMMED FINGER- The term jammed finger refers to finger joint pain and swelling from an impact injury. Jammed fingers are extremely painful, and require immediate treatment to aid healing. The first step of treatment is inflammation management and ensuring there is not a fracture or torn ligament.  Graston Technique and Active Release Technique are very effective treatment techniques to address the sprained and strained tissues and initiate movement in the joint.  Home exercises help expedite the recovery process and help avoid long term disability.

SYMPTOMS-  Pain, swelling, and restriction of movement in a finger or toe.

TRIGGER FINGER-   Trigger finger is a common problem that causes pain and snapping of the tendons in the fingers. The problem that occurs in a patient who has trigger finger is due to the tendons of the fingers, and the sheath in which these tendons live.  The cause of trigger finger is unclear, and can seemingly appear from nowhere. It can occur in one or more fingers, and can occur at different times in different locations. Trigger finger results from a discrepancy between the size of the tendon and the entrance to the tendon sheath. This discrepancy can be the result of localized inflammation or a nodular swelling on the tendon itself.

When the size discrepancy between the tendon and the tendon sheath reaches a critical point, the tendon will experience resistance from the tendon sheath. At first, this is experienced as a snapping of the trigger finger when relaxing a fist. If the condition worsens, the trigger finger may need active force from other fingers to straighten, or may not straighten at all.

SYMPTOMS-   Bent finger, snapping of finger tendon, locking of the finger in a bent position.