The Pain Is In Your Brain

There is an extremely important relationship between brain, IML (intermediate lateral cell nucleus of spinal cord), and motor activity (activity that allows us to move in regards to chronic pain syndromes). The intermediate lateral cell nucleus, or IML, of spinal cord drives sympathetic nervous system. Increasing sympathetic tone increases release of norepinephrine and catecholamines through stimulation of adrenal medulla. When all of this occurs, nociceptive afferent fibers, or pain fibers, are bathed in norepinephrine. When nociceptive afferents are bathed in norepinephrine, secondary to increase sympathetic output, there is an increase in expression of alpha 1 adrenergic receptors which are linked to sodium channels and cause excitation. Thus, there is an increase in IML, or intermediate lateral cell nucleus. The increase in IML output causes an increase in release of norepinephrine, which when released causes an upregulation in uncovering of

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

People who do repetitive tasks - housewives, secretaries, meat cutters, assembly line workers, carpenters, musicians, computer users and others - may be more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Fractures, falls on hand, and poorly designed vibrating hand tools may also damage palm of hand and cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Other causes are rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, Paget's bone disease, multiple myeloma, acromegaly and gout.

Your carpal (wrist) bones form a tunnel-like structure - carpal tunnel - through which pass nine tendons and one nerve - medical nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome (also called occupational neuritis, partial thenar atrophy and median neuritis) occurs when median nerve is irritated. Carpal tunnel syndrome is so common that it has been called "occupational disease of 1990s."

The relationship between spinal health and carpal tunnel has been documented by a number of individuals who found spinal nerve root irritation in patients who had carpal tunnel or ulnar neuropathy. Others have found that nerve compression in neck can block flow of nutrients to nerves in wrist, making wrist more susceptible to injury. This problem is called "double crush syndrome." Not surprisingly, when 1,000 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome were investigated, it was found that a large number of those suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome also had arthritis in neck area.