Carpal Tunnel

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when a nerve in your wrist gets squeezed. This nerve is called the median nerve, and it runs through a narrow space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel.

When this space gets swollen, it presses on the nerve. This causes pain, tingling, and numbness in your hand and fingers.

What does it feel like?

The main symptoms are:

• Aching or pain in your fingers, hand, or arm
• Numb hands - they might feel like they're "asleep"
• Tingling or pins and needles - especially in your thumb, first finger, middle finger, and half of your ring finger
• Weak thumb or trouble gripping things

These symptoms usually:

• Start slowly and come and go
• Are worse at night
• May wake you up from sleep

Who gets carpal tunnel syndrome?

You're more likely to get it if you:

• Are overweight
• Are pregnant (it often gets better after the baby is born)
• Do work or hobbies that make you bend your wrist a lot or grip hard
• Use vibrating tools regularly
• Have diabetes or arthritis
• Have family members with the condition
• Have injured your wrist before

How can you help yourself?

Wear a wrist splint

• Buy one from a pharmacy or online
• Wear it at night to keep your wrist straight
• This takes pressure off the nerve
• You might need to wear it for up to 6 weeks

Make changes to daily activities

• Stop or reduce activities that make you bend your wrist repeatedly
• Take regular breaks if you use computers or tools
• Try not to grip things too tightly

Pain relief

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help with pain
• But they won't fix the root cause
• Don't rely on them long-term

Hand exercises

• Simple stretching exercises might help
• The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has guides you can follow

When to speak to your GP

You should see your GP if:

• Your symptoms are getting worse
• They're not going away
• Home treatments aren't helping after several weeks
• The pain is severe or constant

What can your GP do?

Your GP can usually tell if you have carpal tunnel syndrome by asking about your symptoms and examining your hand.

If they're not sure, they might send you for:

• A nerve test to check how well your nerves work
• An ultrasound or MRI scan

Treatment options include:

• Steroid injection - reduces swelling around the nerve
• Surgery - if other treatments don't work and symptoms are severe

Important to remember

• Many people get better with simple treatments
• Pregnant women often find it improves after giving birth
• It can take months to get better, so be patient
• Surgery usually cures the condition completely

If you're worried about your symptoms or they're not improving, speak to your GP. They can help you find the right treatment and make sure there's nothing else causing your symptoms.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.