Wrist wrath

Chiropractors are viewed by the public mostly as back doctors.  We have made unparalleled strides in conservative care for back pain sufferers and with this success comes a general view of what chiropractic care is all about.  Many do not know that we work on the limbs too.  In fact, some people are completely shocked to learn we can adjust any joint in the body.  This to me is a good thing because it defines us as a profession and many patients will be educated by these adjustments.

A patient with wrist pain presented to the clinic the other day who was suffering badly from a repetitive work injury.  No neurological findings were present and cervical spine orthopedics were all normal.  Upon palpation, mild swelling was present amongst the carpals and tenderness was also present.  The extensor carpi radialis longus was painful as well.  Active range of motion was limited to 20-30 percent of normal in flexion and extension.  Subjective function was quite low with the patient's ability to work and play the guitar.  Joint play of the scaphoid, lunate and capitate was nearly absent and caused significant pain.

We took the findings to the doctor, explained the treatment plan and we were given the green light to treat.  I decided to adjust the lunate first, followed by the capitate and lastly, the scaphoid.  Each adjustment caused significant pain to the patient.  I felt awful for causing such pain but I knew those joints had to be broken free.  My approach to dealing with inflicting such pain was to tell the patient this was going to hurt and to grit those teeth!

The patient felt immediate relief from the adjustments.  The range of motion improved significantly as well.  One treatment fixed this problem.  I will likely adjust the wrist one last time and strip out the extensor muscle and the problem should be 100% resolved!

I had the patient do pain free active range of motion, ice the wrist for pain relief and self massage to the extensor muscle.  At the clinic, we used the cold laser modality on the carpals as well as the common extensor tendon to speed healing.

It has been 13 days since I saw this patient last and based on a brief telephone call today, the patient is 95% better.

This is a great example of our ability to work on any of the joints in the body.  The phenomenon of joint restrictions plagues so many lives in so many ways.  It was really cool to see someone return to normal with such speed after one adjustment.

This patient's alternatives were; anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and at worst, surgery.

I hope someday alternative medicine is redefined as the use of  invasive therapies versus the use of noninvasive therapies like chiropractic care and nutrition.

All for now