Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief in Mount Prospect, IL

Evidence-based, drug-free chiropractic care for carpal tunnel syndrome — serving Mount Prospect and Chicago’s northwest suburbs since 1999.

WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME?

Evidence-Based Care That Gets Results

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel — a narrow passageway at the base of the hand. That compression can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb and first few fingers, along with weakness or a loss of fine motor control in more advanced cases. It’s the most common nerve entrapment condition, and symptoms are often worse at night or first thing in the morning.

CTS is usually driven by a combination of factors — repetitive wrist motion, prolonged wrist flexion or extension, and vibration exposure are common triggers, and certain health conditions and anatomical factors can also increase your risk. Dr. Vijay Patel and Dr. Hannah Synon start with a thorough evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and identify what’s contributing to your symptoms, then build a conservative treatment plan around it. Leading medical guidelines recommend conservative care before considering surgery, and research has found conservative manual therapy can produce outcomes comparable to surgery for many patients.

CONDITIONS WE TREAT

Hand & Wrist Conditions We Treat

Our Mount Prospect office treats carpal tunnel syndrome and the related nerve and repetitive-strain conditions that can cause similar symptoms:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Compression of the median nerve at the wrist.

Cervical Radiculopathy Contributing to Hand Symptoms

Nerve irritation originating in the neck that can mimic or worsen carpal tunnel symptoms.

Pronator Syndrome

Median nerve compression higher up, in the forearm.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow, another common cause of hand numbness.

Double Crush Syndrome

Nerve compression at more than one point along the same nerve’s path.

Repetitive Strain from Work or Hobby Activities

Wrist and hand symptoms driven by repetitive tasks or poor ergonomics.

HOW WE TREAT CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

A Full Range of Chiropractic Care

Conservative care is the recommended first step for carpal tunnel syndrome. Depending on what’s driving your symptoms, your plan may combine several of the following, all delivered by Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon:

Chiropractic Adjustments & Manual Therapy

Targeted adjustments and mobilization of the neck, wrist, and carpal bones to relieve irritation along the median nerve’s path.

Therapeutic Exercise

Nerve gliding and tendon gliding exercises, along with targeted stretching and strengthening, to restore normal nerve mobility and function.

Laser Therapy

Class IV laser to reduce inflammation and support nerve healing — drug-free, with no downtime.

Custom Splinting

A properly fitted wrist splint to reduce nighttime symptoms and support healing between visits.

YOUR FIRST VISIT

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Step 1: Comprehensive Evaluation. Your first visit includes a full health history and physical exam, with a focus on your neck, wrist, and hand. Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon will perform specific orthopedic tests and screen for contributing factors — including cervical involvement and health conditions that raise CTS risk — to confirm your diagnosis and pinpoint what’s driving your symptoms. Nerve conduction testing may be ordered if clinically indicated.

Step 2: Your Personalized Treatment Plan. Based on your evaluation, your chiropractor will explain what’s causing your symptoms and recommend a plan built around your specific diagnosis and goals — often combining chiropractic adjustments and manual therapy with nerve gliding exercises, splinting, and other in-office modalities.

Step 3: Treatment and Progress. Adjustments and manual therapy reduce irritation along the nerve’s path, nerve gliding exercises restore normal mobility, and splinting protects your wrist between visits. Many patients notice improvement within the first several weeks, and we reassess regularly to keep your plan on track. If conservative care isn’t resolving your symptoms, Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon will coordinate the next step, whether that’s further testing or a specialist referral.

WHY CHOOSE APMT

Why Patients Choose Advanced Physical Medicine & Therapy

25+ Years of Experience

Board-certified chiropractors serving Mount Prospect for over 25 years.

Evidence-Based Approach

Treatment recommendations grounded in current clinical research.

Integrated Care

Chiropractic, physical therapy, pain management and wellness care — all under one roof.

Thorough Evaluation

Careful screening before treatment, including referrals when needed.

97% Would Refer a Friend

Patient satisfaction backed by real outcomes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common Questions About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Does chiropractic manual therapy help carpal tunnel syndrome?

Yes. A systematic review of manual therapy interventions, including joint mobilization of the wrist and carpal bones, found benefit for carpal tunnel syndrome as part of a comprehensive treatment program. Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon may also address related restrictions in the neck, since the nerves feeding your hand and wrist originate there.

Can conservative care work as well as surgery?

For many patients, yes. A randomized clinical trial found that manual physical therapy produced comparable results to surgery for self-reported function, symptom severity, and grip strength, and a 4-year follow-up of the same patients found those results held over time. A separate systematic review comparing surgical and non-surgical treatment found no significant differences in functional status, symptom severity, or nerve conduction outcomes at 3 or 12 months. Leading medical guidelines recommend conservative management before considering surgery. As with any treatment, results vary by patient — Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon will give you an honest picture of what to expect based on your specific case.

What is nerve gliding, and does it help?

Nerve gliding (also called neurodynamic therapy) is a specific set of movements designed to restore normal mobility to the median nerve as it travels through your wrist. Research has found that these techniques lead to long-term improvements in pain, symptom severity, and grip strength for carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon will teach you the correct technique and build it into your home exercise program.

Do wrist splints help?

Yes, especially for reducing nighttime symptoms. Wearing a splint that holds your wrist in a neutral position can reduce symptoms that wake you up at night, and research has found that a splint design that also supports the base of the fingers may provide more lasting benefit than a traditional wrist-only splint. Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon can determine whether splinting is a good fit for your case and what design will help most.

Does laser therapy help carpal tunnel syndrome?

Research supports it as a helpful part of a conservative care plan. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis found high-intensity laser therapy effective for reducing pain and improving nerve function in carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon will determine whether laser therapy fits your treatment plan.

How do I know if conservative care will work for me?

It depends on a few factors. Research has found that patients with fewer risk factors present — for example, a shorter duration of symptoms and a strong response to certain in-office tests — tend to do very well with conservative care, while patients with several risk factors present may need to consider other options sooner. Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon will assess these factors at your evaluation and give you an honest recommendation, including coordinating further testing or a referral if conservative care isn’t the right fit for your case.

How many visits will I need?

It depends on how long you’ve had symptoms, how severe they are, and which risk factors are present in your case. Some patients feel meaningful relief in a few weeks; a longer-standing case may need a longer plan. Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon will give you an honest recommendation after your evaluation.

Does insurance cover treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome?

Most major plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Medicare, cover medically necessary chiropractic care. We have cash treatment plans for patients who do not have insurance or have out-of-network plans. Our front desk verifies your benefits before your first visit. We also see workers’ compensation and personal injury cases.

Is chiropractic care for carpal tunnel syndrome backed by research?

Yes — several conservative approaches have solid research support:

Conservative care vs. surgery: randomized trials and a systematic review have found conservative manual therapy produces outcomes comparable to surgery for many patients.
Manual therapy: a systematic review supports joint mobilization as part of a comprehensive treatment program.
Nerve gliding: shown to produce long-term improvements in pain, symptom severity, and grip strength.
Splinting: supported for reducing nighttime symptoms, especially designs that also support the base of the fingers.
Laser therapy: a 2025 systematic review supports its use for pain relief and improved nerve function.

These are population-level findings, not a guarantee for your specific case. Dr. Patel or Dr. Synon will confirm the right approach for your diagnosis at your evaluation.

Ready to Get Relief from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Call our Mount Prospect office at 847-222-9060 or request an appointment online. Same-week appointments are often available.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Mount Prospect