Question
I have been seeing a Chiropractor now going on 4 weeks, usually 2-3 times a week.  My arms and hands keep going numb, especially at night.  It wakes me up at least 3 times a night.  My right hand and arm are the worse, I can tolerate the left.  I can't grip things very well. The pain and numbness and tingeling are in my thumb, index finger and middle finger and on my right hand if you look at your palm, directly under the middle finger go to where the the palm and wrist meet, just before you get to your wrist at the bottom of your hand in the middle, there is a constant sharp pain and it goes up my arm to my elbow.  The doctor I am seeing took x-rays on my initial visit he said that my neck has no curve to it, it is straight up and down, also my spine goes to the right just a little up between my shoulder blades and again at my lower back.  
So, even though I have been getting ajusted for almost a month, a few times a week, it doesn't seem to be helping at all.  I also alternate between heat and cold packs 3-4 times a day.  
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Paula Thompson

Answer
After 4 weeks of care you should have noticed a significant difference in your symptoms (if Chiropractic care was right for this problem). It is obviously not helping and you can feel confident in discontinuing your care at this point, but please be sure to see another specialist. I would highly recommend seeing a Neurologist at this point.

It is common for carpal tunnel syndrome (which sounds like your major problem) to originate in the soft side of the wrist and refer pain and tingling to the fingers and all the way up to the shoulder. Weakness with grip strength is a normal symptom, though you should have an EMG a the Neurologists office to verify the permanancy of it (it should not be permanent).

As for the pain while sleeping, you can go to the drug store today and get a brace for each hand. Wear them every night while sleeping (here is a picture of the type you want. the one called 'bio skin DP2' on the left. http://www.supports4u.com/wrist.htm ). You may also choose to wear them during the day for a week or two, but be sure to remove them occasionally to stretch your wrist. You may try to find one that is washable, they get pretty smelly.

Here is a web site for stretchs which should be done 3x per day for you, then ice afterwards. ( http://www.carpaltunnelspecialists.com/Exercises.html ) It wouldn't hurt to take anti-inflammatories (Ibuprofin - follow label) at this time.

Classic Carpal Tunnel syndrome patients complain of numbness and weakness in their hand(s) with night pain, others present with a myriad of complaints, such as forearm discomfort or shooting pains up the arm, swelling, peculiar hand symptoms, temperature sensitivities and finger soreness.  

The 'Carpal Tunnel' is a group of nerves and tendons that travel through the underside of your tiny wrist. They are held in place by thick fibers over the top and bone on the bottom. Kind of like if you grabed all your TV cables and wraped them in saran wrap.  When your wrist is used a lot, like during typing, the tendons are constantly rubbing and create inflammation and swelling, which puts pressure on the nerve. This in turn creates pain, numbness, and weakness. Also, if at night you curl up your paws - like all of us do - it puts a lot of pressure in the wrist. The same effect occurs - numbness, pain, stiffnes.


So get the braces, call a Neurologist, and get better soon!

Good Luck!
Cindie