Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Your Neck & Shoulders?
Posted on 14. Nov, 2011 by Michael in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Over the years people have come to accept that hand and wrist pain, tingling, or numbness signals localized injury. In any case, hundreds of people get wrist surgery every year to relieve these symptoms – it therefore seems logical to suspect injury when these symptoms manifest.
What is not in the public arena is that many people who have undergone wrist and hand surgery continue to experience hand, wrist, and arm pain or tingling. Others only get temporary relief before the problem recurs with more intensity. Still, other patients develop symptoms similar to carpal tunnel syndrome following whiplash or neck sprain/strain. They may not have any wrist injury but still have severe pain in the hand. Why does this happen?
One explanation is a wrong diagnosis. Since the body is a complex network of joints, tissue, nerves, ligaments, muscle and other components, it is possible that a symptom evident at one part of the body may be caused by a trigger located in a different part of the body. This approach to healing is more holistic as opposed to the often disjointed medical view. Doctors tend to specialize in various body parts. Specialists are usually good at specific diseases and ailments but sometimes make the wrong diagnosis when multiple bodily systems are involved. Mark Twain had a saying for it: “When You’re A Hammer, All You See is Nails.”
More and more emerging research demonstrates this to be the case in carpal tunnel patients. Recent studies show that most carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are caused by muscle imbalances in your neck and shoulders, causing poor posture, trigger points, nerve compression and pain shooting down your arm.
We’ve turned into a more postural distorted society where we sit most of the day. People often go from their cars, to their desk and computer, back to their cars, and right plop into their couch. Raising the remote control is often the highest their arms get above throughout the day.
This lack of movement creates muscles imbalances, and most relevant to carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms is the rounding shoulders and forward head posture. When the shoulders round, and head moves forward, the muscles in the neck and shoulders compress nerves that run down the arm. This compression in the neck and shoulders typically produces hand, wrist and arm tingling, pain or numbness.
The same “computer” rounding shoulders and forward head posture cause the trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles to activate and radiate pain down the arm. The “landmine” knots actually refer pain into the hand, wrist and arm causing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.
This is why most hand, wrist, and arm tingling and pain, or “carpal tunnel syndrome” actually comes from the neck and shoulders.
Seeing a Neuromuscular Therapist for proper wrist and neck examination is the key to correct diagnosis. Poor examination leads to wrong diagnosis and unsuccessful treatment – in this case, surgery. Before you allow someone to cut into your flesh with a scalpel you should give neuromuscular therapy and posture realignment exercises a chance. If the symptoms in your wrist are caused by muscle imbalances, trigger points or postural distortions in your neck and shoulders, surgery to the wrist will prove to be unsuccessful treatment.
If you’re a Los Angeles hand, wrist or arm pain, tingling, or numbness sufferer or looking for a pain management or pain relief specialist, call now.
22 Responses to “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Your Neck & Shoulders?”
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williemaeelloie
17. Dec, 2012
l was diagnosed with carpal tunnel of the necck and was told that i need to see a specialist because I have two knots in the back of my neck .What should I do.
Michael
05. Jan, 2013
Hi,
I suggest finding a Neuromuscular Therapist, as well as doing postural alignment exercises. Check out my video site at http://www.GetPainFree.Tv for more info. Let me know if you need any further help.
cheers,
Michael
Kirstin
25. Jan, 2013
My husband is a tree trimmer (10 yrs) and is having problems with his shoulder. Says it is very “achey”. Could this be Carpal Tunnel?
Michael
25. Jan, 2013
Hi Kirstin,
Most likely it’s not. Problems with the neck/shoulder often lead to symptoms in the hand, wrist and arm, yet not vice versa.
If he’s having neck and shoulder issues, it’s most likely an issue in that region.
check out my video site for more info on this
cheers,
Michael
Michael
13. Mar, 2013
most likely it’s not carpal tunnel.
check out my video site for more info
Martin
06. Feb, 2013
Good write up, in my experience i had suffered with typical carpal tunnel symptoms for 7 years + had the wrist op. on both hands in 2009.
I was informed after the op. i could have perminant damage because of the time i ignored carple tunnel.
Within 6 months it had fully returned, although seeminly different. Wasnt getting it while driving, eating, etc. but during the night the symtoms had reaccured worse.
I’m currently waiting to see a speicalist about the possibility of neck/shoulder carple tunnel problems.
I do an extreamly phisical job and havent slept propery since 2003.
Il check out your video link!!
Thanks for any advice in advance!!
freddy
16. Feb, 2013
hi,
im currently working with a Physical Therapist to help eleviate swelling and pain from carpal tunnel syndrom.
i have also noticed pain in my shoulder,forearm and wist.along with the pain,i have muscle weakness.
can you give me an idea of what the real problem may be?
i do a lot of driving,and am i machine mechanic.repetitive motion and heavy work for 22 years.
Mai
22. Feb, 2013
Hi. I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome on my left hand and schedule to have an operation. But lately and it’s almost 3wks now I feel pain both on my neck and shoulder (left side), I can hardly move my arms. Does ít has something to do with CTS? And will an operation helps? Many thanks.
Trina
22. Feb, 2013
Hi Michael
I have had Carpel Tunnel symptoms for a few years now. Lately I am experiencing upper arm shoulder and neck pain on both sides could this be connected with CTS?
Check out my video site for more info on this
Trina
Michael
13. Mar, 2013
Hi Trina,
the upper arm, shoulder and neck pain typically comes from a chain of muscles out balance.
Meaning, from poor posture and/or stress, some of the muscles get too tight, some get too overstretched.
It’s only connected to the carpal tunnel in the sense that both the CTS, and the Neck/Shoulder pain are symptoms of muscle imbalances, and postural distortions.
hope that helps, let me know if i can help further.
check out my video site for more info on all this.
cheers,
Michael
Sue-Ann
04. Mar, 2013
I have had neck and shoulder pain fro the last 4 weeks, it’s predominantly on the left side. it goes from just bearable to really painful and stiff. For the past week I have had consistent tingling in my fingers as well as occasional numbness.
From what I’ve researched it sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome. Is this the case?
Thanks,
Sue
Michael
13. Mar, 2013
Hi Sue-Ann,
if it stems from the neck and shoulders, it’s not carpal tunnel syndrom.
search “thoracic outlet syndrome” , “scalene muscle trigger points” online.
posture is key for all this.
Check out my video site for more info on this
let me know how else i may help.
cheers,
Michael
daniel helm
10. Mar, 2013
Thought i had carpal tunnel for years came and went then got real bad then was refered for surgery, where they asked if i had been tested for carpal tunnel, so they could be sure it was carpal tunnel and not a more serious neck issue,since surgery things have gone worse to most days i want to die,shoulders drawn to my neck and arms all lambe severe pain in my arms neck and legs, pain clinic and pcp are treating me for mild ddd
Michael
13. Mar, 2013
Hi Daniel,
really sorry to hear that.
chronic pain is often debilitating, and the medical model often is a challenging route to heal.
check out my video site for more info on this
I wish you the best,
Michael
Bridget
13. Mar, 2013
I have had carpal tunnel surgery. Now I’m experiencing achey pain in my shoulder (back of shoulder) and numbness going down my right arm. I have also had an ulnar release before the carpal tunnel. Could this still be affiliated with Carpal Tunnel in which I just had that surgery last October?
Michael
13. Mar, 2013
Hi Bridget,
it could be affiliate yet typically it’s the neck/shoulder muscles referring pain down into the shoulder and arms.
check out and do a google search for these 3 terms, i think you’ll find it helpful: “scalene muscle trigger points” , “subscapularis muscle trigger points” and “thoracic outlet syndrome”
check out my video site for more info on this
let me know how else i may help.
cheers,
Michael
Alicia
30. Mar, 2013
For the past 17 years, I have had the gamut of “quick” but seemingly off target diagnoses such as MS, carpal tunnel limited to impingement at the wrist…..yet when I MYSELF give input on the fact that my predominant neck, shoulder and positive subclavicular TOS press aggravation…as well as subscapularis trigger points (causing UNBEARABLE axillary pain at times)… I’m called “difficult”, “stubborn”, “non compliant”, and treated like Elaine Benes on Seinfeld…with a stigma attached. I cannot help that I’ve moved a lot in my military career…and that I have to see multiple specialists when referred. They all GENERALLY say that “all I need is an antidepressant”, or that it is like psychosomatic, or that I should just schedule the wrist release and stop fighting it. I know that I definitely suffer from a combo or CUBITAL, CARPAL, AND SUBSCAPULAR impingement, whether or not it is radiating and referred….I’m uncomfortable, unhopeful, and jaded because of how I’ve been treated….it is bizzarre!! I know my body…I know my pains…I know the spasms, the tingling, the head turning exacerbation, the axillary stabbing pain, and the definite weakness…..help me….I will fly to LA…if you think this is familiar!
Natalie
04. May, 2013
I have a standard set of carpal tunnel symptoms, but no tingling. It started as an overuse injury in my right hand 2 years ago, due to one night of 8hr laptop mouse use. As I began to compensate with my left hand, it developed the problems too. I began to avoid the computer, but over time the pain became a constant. I have it no matter what I do now. It has spread to my arms and trapezius. I cannot carry a small bag for more than 15 minutes without triggering greater shoulder pain.
I would describe the pain as dull but tight, and constant. It is kind of like when you do stretches, but what if you never stopped feeling that stretch pain no matter how you positioned yourself.
Michael
04. May, 2013
Hi Natalie,
there’s a lot more info, check out and subscribe my YouTube and Facebook channel at http://www.GetPainFree.tv
I’ll be posting postural exercises that help to alleviate these symptoms.
Let me know if you have any questions.
thanks,
Michael
Evelin
05. May, 2013
I have carpal tunnel symdrome in both hands but my right hand is moderate and also have it in my elbow as well I’m still waiting on my surgery but 6 days ago I having this headache when I try to stand up I feel cramps or more like stabbing pain in back of my head and neck is not going away. Could this be carpal tunnel in my neck???
Michele
03. Jun, 2013
i have read a lot of the comments above, I have carpal tunnel in both hands. I have had it for 7 yrs., for the past couple years I have had shoulder pain and just recently started to have neck pain. You suggested seeing a neuromuscular therapist, what is the difference in a physical therapist, massagae therapist, and a neuromuscular therapist? Could I see a massage therapist and get the same results?
Michael
06. Jun, 2013
Hi Michele,
a Neuromuscular Therapist, preferably a veteran (15 + years experience) in the St. John Method of Neuromuscular Therapy, is a specific field of manual soft-tissue therapy, trained to release the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and trigger points more specifically than anyone else. You don’t find the same results and training with a regular massage therapist or physical therapist, and hence less results.
hope that helps.
cheers,
Michael