Hi Judy,

I hope you receive this email. You sent me the following message:

SO ... if our EGM/NCV tests are positive (we definitely have CTS),
then we are on the right track to surgery, and your massage therapy
won't work for us, correct? Judy

I've tried 8 times to send you a response but your ISP spam guard won't let
it go through. So, I'm hoping that this will work. The response I wrote
for you is:

No, it simply means that something is trapping the median nerve within the
carpal tunnel. It does NOT mean that you need surgery to release it. The
flexor (underside of your forearm) muscles may well be tight. Their tendons
go through the carpal tunnel along with the median nerve. When the tendons
are tight they trap the nerve within their taut fibers, and you would get a
positive EMG. But the reason the tendons are tight is because the muscle
that controls them is in spasm. when the muscle is in a contracted state it
pulls up on the tendons. Not only does this trap the nerve within the
tunnel, but the pulling of the insertion point of the tendons (they insert
into your wrist/base of your hand, and your fingers) will cause wrist/hand
pain.

Also, your extensor muscles could be tight. They are on the top of your
forearm. Research has proven that when the extensors are tight that the
taut tendons (which insert onto the top of your hand and the top of your
fingers)will alter the size/dimension of your carpal tunnel. This
alteration can cause the nerve to be trapped within the tunnel.

Finally, your thumb muscle originates on the bridge to the carpal tunnel,
called the flexor retinaculum. Almost everyone has some tightness in this
muscle because you contract it millions of times every day (it pulls your
thumb in toward your palm) and since it is a "saddle joint" you can't
stretch this muscle. As a result it eventually shortens. As it shortens it
pulls tightly on the flexor retinaculum and that will cause the band to
tighten down onto the median nerve. Again the nerve is trapped within the
tunnel!

In all of these cases all you need to do is find the spasms and then release
them (very easy to do when you are shown how to find them and how to treat
them). As the fibers are released from the knot, they lengthen. As they
lengthen they take the pressure off the nerve, and you are again just fine -
without surgery.

Think about it Judy, all the surgery is doing is cutting open the flexor
retinaculum so the tight flexor tendons have someplace to go to. In only a
very small percentage of people is there a systemic reason for the carpal
tunnel to be pressing on the nerve. If you have congestive heart failure,
thyroid, pregnancy or lymphedema, then you may well have a systemic cause of
carpal tunnel syndrome. If you don't, then the odds are as high as 95% that
all that you have is repetitive strain injury of muscles that cross the
median nerve.

It's worth the try to learn how to self-treat the muscles. You can always
opt for surgery if it doesn't work, but if you do surgery and the muscles
are causing it, now you will be creating scar tissue within the area that
used to be called the carpal tunnel. You don't have a carpal tunnel anymore
because they surgically opened it.

Did you take a look at the graphics on our website: www.aboutcts.com. They
will help you to visualize what I've been saying.

It's worked for so many people, I hope you will consider trying before you
make a decision for surgery.

Wishing you well,
Julie

Release "aches & pains" in your muscles and joints. You are your own best
therapist!
Visit www.julstro.com and find common sense answers.

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