How We Diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

It’s surprising that for a condition as common as carpal tunnel syndrome, there is no real standard test for diagnosing it as yet. The condition, which occurs due to the median nerve being pinched or impacted due to the carpal tunnel being compressed, affects patients in various ways. Moreover, there are other conditions which exhibit similar symptoms which further complicate a proper diagnosis so how can we at Back and Body Pain Relief perform an accurate diagnosis?

Firstly, we would look at the patient’s history. We would look at the patient’s job, whether they perform tasks requiring a heavy grip of tools for example. Or if they work at a desk, operating a mouse and computer. These tasks can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

We can also look to see if they have had any neck pain or whiplash injury as well as this could also radiate pain down the arm and cause pain and tingling similar to that of carpal tunnel syndrome. If that is the case, treatment of the neck would be more prudent to eliminate the pain.

Of course, a combination of the two is also possible, further complicating diagnosis.
We can also perform a series of examinations on various points of the arm to identify the probable cause. This would give us a good assessment and give us the source of the problem for which we can treat.

However, in some cases, the problem may be such that the patient may require more advanced testing such as electrodiagnostic testing, but even this is not that reliable due to the level of discomfort felt by the patient during testing and studies have shown that there is up to a 34% false positive rate.

At Back and Body Pain Relief, because of the difficulty of an accurate diagnosis, we make these tests and then treat accordingly. We test again and reevaluate based on the results of this to ensure that we are treating properly. It’s this constant treat and check process which enables us to get to the bottom of the problem and eliminate it.

As you can see, carpal tunnel syndrome is a tricky beast, but we can treat it and eliminate it through this process of examine and treat.
If you have wrist pain or tingling, come in and see us. We would love to help you out of pain and back to normal again.

Dr David Perna DC, CCSP, CCEP

Dr. David Perna DC, CCSP, CCEP is the founder and practice overseer at Back and Body Pain Relief in Springfield, NJ. A graduate of Life University Summa Cum Laude, Dr. Perna holds certifications in Active Release Technique (ART), Graston, SFMA, Neuro-Diagnostics (NCV/EMG), and Manipulation Under Anesthesia, among others. He is a Board Certified Sports Physician, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and a United States Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Volunteer.

A competing athlete himself — a 2x Ironman 70.3 finisher with a background in Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, and martial arts – Dr. Perna brings firsthand athletic experience to his patient care.

He has treated presidents, royalty, diplomats, and professional athletes across MMA, baseball, tennis, and football, and has appeared on Dr. Oz demonstrating chiropractic therapies. His approach is diagnostic-first, combining evidence-based chiropractic care with rehabilitation to help patients get out of pain and back to full function.