Morrisville, Cary & RTP
Carpal Tunnel, Wrist & Hand Pain Treatment
Why Do My Wrist or Hands Hurt? The pain may be in your hand—but the problem isn't always your wrist.
Your hands perform thousands of movements every day. Typing, gripping tools, texting, cooking, lifting weights, playing an instrument, gardening, or simply opening a jar all depend on healthy wrist and hand function.
When pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or stiffness develops, even simple tasks become frustrating.
Many people assume these symptoms automatically mean carpal tunnel syndrome. Sometimes they do. Often they don't.
Symptoms affecting your wrist, palm, fingers, or thumb may actually originate from irritated tendons, joints, muscles, nerves, your elbow, your shoulder, or even your neck.
That's why Dr. Steve Palazzo doesn't begin with treatment. He begins with finding the cause.
At Integrative Chiropractic, our goal is to determine what's creating your symptoms and help you choose the right course of care—whether that's chiropractic treatment, another healthcare provider, or immediate medical evaluation.
Not Every Hand Problem Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Hand numbness is one of the most commonly misunderstood symptoms we evaluate.
Many patients arrive convinced they have carpal tunnel syndrome because they've experienced tingling in their fingers or their hands "fall asleep" at night.
Sometimes they're right. Other times the problem begins in the neck, elbow, shoulder, tendons, joints, or another nerve altogether.
Before recommending treatment, Dr. Palazzo's first priority is determining what's actually causing your symptoms.
The Integrative Diagnostic Pathway
Every Wrist & Hand Problem Deserves the Right Diagnosis
Chiropractic Care Appears Appropriate
Many wrist and hand conditions are mechanical and respond well to conservative treatment focused on restoring movement, improving nerve mobility, and reducing stress on irritated tissues. Common examples include:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Wrist joint dysfunction
- Thumb pain
- Trigger finger
- Finger joint restrictions
- Palm pain (muscle/tendon irritation)
- Grip dysfunction
- Cervical nerve irritation
- Forearm muscle dysfunction
If your examination suggests one of these conditions, we'll create a personalized treatment plan designed to restore function while reducing pain and irritation.
Another Healthcare Provider May Be the Better Choice
Some wrist and hand conditions require additional testing or specialized medical care. Depending on your examination, Dr. Palazzo may recommend consultation with:
- Hand Surgeon
- Orthopedic Specialist
- Neurologist
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Rheumatologist
- Occupational Therapist
- Primary Care Physician
As the only chiropractor serving on the UNC Health System staff, Dr. Palazzo collaborates with physicians across multiple specialties. If another provider is better suited for your condition, he'll explain why and help guide you toward the appropriate next step. Our goal isn't simply to provide chiropractic care. Our goal is helping every patient receive the right care.
Immediate Medical Attention Required
Although uncommon, certain symptoms should never be ignored. Warning signs include:
- Sudden loss of hand function
- Significant trauma with deformity
- Suspected fracture
- Progressive muscle weakness
- Complete loss of sensation
- Severe infection
- Rapidly worsening numbness
- Loss of circulation or unusual discoloration
If your symptoms suggest a potentially serious condition, we'll recommend immediate medical evaluation. Recognizing when chiropractic care is not appropriate is part of responsible patient care.
Could It Really Be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the wrist.
Common symptoms include:
- Numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger
- Tingling that wakes you at night
- Weak grip strength
- Difficulty holding small objects
- Hand fatigue
- Pain that may travel into the forearm
- Frequently dropping objects
Carpal tunnel is common—but it isn't the only cause of these symptoms. That's why an accurate diagnosis matters.
Pain Doesn't Have to Be in Your Wrist
One of the biggest surprises during an evaluation is discovering the wrist isn't the primary source of the problem.
The nerves supplying your hands begin in your neck. Those nerves travel through your shoulder, arm, elbow, and forearm before reaching your fingers. Problems anywhere along that pathway may create:
- Hand numbness
- Tingling
- Burning sensations
- Finger pain
- Palm pain
- Weakness
- Reduced grip strength
Treating only the wrist may overlook the true source of the problem. That's why Dr. Palazzo evaluates the entire upper extremity—from your neck to your fingertips.
Common Wrist & Hand Conditions We Evaluate
Every patient is different, but some of the most common conditions we evaluate include:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Trigger Finger
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Thumb arthritis
- Wrist sprains
- Tendinitis
- Ganglion cyst-related
- discomfort
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Finger joint pain
- Palm pain
- Grip weakness
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Cervical radiculopathy
Many of these conditions produce similar symptoms, making a comprehensive evaluation essential.
Finger Pain, Thumb Pain & Palm Pain
Not all hand problems involve numbness. Pain affecting your fingers, thumb, or palm can make everyday tasks like writing, buttoning a shirt, turning a key, or gripping a steering wheel uncomfortable.
These symptoms may result from:
Many of our patients spend hours every day:
- Tendon irritation
- Trigger finger
- Thumb arthritis
- Joint inflammation
- Repetitive gripping
- Muscle strain
- Nerve irritation
- Previous injuries
- Overuse at work or sports
Finding the source of your pain is the first step toward effective treatment.
Repetitive Motion Can Take a Toll
Many wrist and hand problems develop gradually after thousands of repeated movements. Common contributors include:
- Computer work
- keyboard/mouse use
- dental professionals
- healthcare workers
- construction
- mechanics
- hair stylists
- musicians
- artists
- golf
- tennis
- pickleball
- weightlifting
- and rock climbing.
Small stresses repeated every day can eventually become chronic pain.
We Start With Questions, Not Treatment
Every evaluation begins with understanding your story.
Dr. Palazzo will discuss:
- When your symptoms began
- Which fingers are affected
- Activities that aggravate symptoms
- Nighttime numbness
- Previous injuries & Occupation
- Sports and hobbies
- Grip strength changes
- Previous imaging or treatmen
Your physical exam may include:
- Wrist, finger, and thumb mobility
- Grip strength testing
- Neurological screening
- Wrist and hand orthopedic testing
- Elbow and shoulder evaluation
- Cervical spine examination
- Functional movement assessment
Only after identifying the underlying cause do we discuss the most appropriate treatment options.
If Chiropractic Care Is the Right Choice
Your individualized treatment plan may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Wrist & hand joint mobilization
- Myofascial release
- Soft tissue therapy
- Dry needling
- Deep tissue laser therapy
- Shockwave therapy
- Nerve mobility exercises
- Grip strengthening
- Corrective exercises
- Ergonomic recommendations
- Home rehabilitation
Every recommendation is tailored to your diagnosis, lifestyle, and goals.
Our Goal Is More Than Relieving Symptoms
Whether your goal is typing comfortably, lifting weights, playing guitar, golfing, cooking, working with tools, or simply sleeping through the night without numb hands, lasting improvement begins with understanding why your symptoms developed—not simply treating where they hurt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hand numbness always mean carpal tunnel syndrome?
No. While carpal tunnel syndrome is a common cause of hand numbness, similar symptoms can also result from problems involving the neck, elbow, shoulder, or other nerves. A thorough evaluation helps determine the actual cause.
Why do my hands go numb at night?
Nighttime numbness is commonly associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, but it may also be related to sleeping position, cervical nerve irritation, or other conditions affecting the nerves of the arm.
Can neck problems cause hand pain?
Yes. Nerves that originate in the cervical spine travel all the way to your fingers. Irritation in the neck can create pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness throughout the hand.
Can chiropractic care help finger or thumb pain?
Many mechanical causes of finger, thumb, and wrist pain respond well to conservative care, particularly when symptoms are related to joint dysfunction, repetitive strain, muscle imbalance, or nerve irritation. The first step is determining exactly what's causing your symptoms.
Don't Guess. Get Answers.
Pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or stiffness in your hands shouldn't be ignored—and they shouldn't automatically be assumed to be carpal tunnel syndrome. The most important step is identifying what's actually causing your symptoms.