May Not Be Carpal Tunnel !!!

For those drummers who are in a trade involving hammering, be careful on how you grip the hammer and it's weight. For 4 years I was suffering from mild carpal tunnel syndrome that was caused doing the Mike Mangini grip holding the hammer with thumb/ index finger first joint with spacious gap thinking I am building muscle around my wrists and forearms. I was hammering on 16 gauge metal for one day, maybe 2. After I got laid off for Several months, my right hand became very weak and numb as I held a stick and practiced on the pad. Then behind the drums it became worse with gripping and vibrations. My sticks would fly off my hand, fingers numb, and wrist lock up. 2 years later did a EMG test and came mild carpal. I had to start playing again. After going through 3 different Chiropractors and 3 accupuncturists, and doing A.R.T., which didn't help, a miracle happened. I did a job from a friend to a friend and it happens to be that this customer's wife is a nurse. It also happens to be that this customer was a musician and I told him the scenario with me. I sat with them after I was done with my job and his wife, the nurse, gives me a number to a guy is a Napropath, chiropractor, accupuncture doctor. I had my doubts thinking yeah right. I took the gamble and guess what? After ten minutes of testing my neck, arm, elbow, and wrist....he pops 2 bones and pops something in my thumb and says " You don't have carpal tunnel !!! Your carpal bones were out of alignment pushing against the median nerve and your thumb was subluxated." I was like WHAT??? 4 years of deppression thinking I wont be able to play drums again only to hear that and it was that easy. No Surgery!!!!!! And it only cost me $ 40.00. I am now playing like I was and very happy !!!!!