Carpal tunnel syndrome is a prevalent condition that involves a nerve in the wrist being squeezed or compressed. It can cause numbness, pain, and tingling in the hand and part of the arm when this happens.
The condition is often caused by repetitive motions of the wrist and fingers (like typing). Trauma to the wrists, such as a fracture, can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome, but this is less common.
Can carpal tunnel syndrome cause shoulder pain?
The answer is yes — carpal tunnel syndrome can cause shoulder pain. Such pain occurs because of something called referred pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder that impacts your wrists; nevertheless, it can also affect other areas of your body, including your neck and shoulders.
Referred pain occurs when a person experiences pain in one area due to an injury or condition in another area. For instance, if you have lower back discomfort, you may experience referred pain or “radiating” pain down your legs.
How can physical therapists help when carpal tunnel syndrome is causing you shoulder pain?
Physical therapists create individual treatment plans for each patient, based on their individual needs. These plans can help both your carpal tunnel syndrome and radiating shoulder pain. They can also include techniques such as:
- Patient education — Your physical therapist can help you to manage the pain by educating you about several points. They can help you use a different positioning of your hands when doing certain repetitive tasks. Also, they can help you learn how to maintain a neutral wrist position. This can help you avoid repeatedly bending the wrist over a long period of time. In addition, they can teach you the importance of maintaining proper posture of the neck and upper back.
- Exercises for strengthening — To help you maintain a proper posture, your physical therapist may show you exercises to strengthen your muscles. Following the symptomatic relief, therapeutic exercises for the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow and shoulder may be advised.
- Stretching exercises — To improve the flexibility of your wrist, hand and fingers, your physical therapist will teach you gentle stretching exercises.
- Joint mobilization — The process of joint mobilization involves gently moving a joint in order to improve its function. Mobilizing your joints may assist in improving the range of motion (ROM) of your affected wrist and shoulder.
Find a physical therapy specialist who can help ease your shoulder pain
Can carpal tunnel syndrome cause shoulder pain? Yes. Have you been experiencing referred shoulder pain from carpal tunnel? One of our expert physical therapists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy is ready to help. If you suffer from continual shoulder pain, you can request a free screening to identify the cause. In addition, our therapists can develop an individualized plan of physical therapy treatment that’s designed to address your particular needs, decrease your pain and prevent it from recurring.
Get in touch with our team if you’re dealing with referred shoulder pain from carpal tunnel syndrome.
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