5 Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome You Should Know

Lindsay Curtis
·6 min read

Medically reviewed by Jane Kim, MD

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition that develops when the median nerve—a major nerve that controls movement and sensation in the hand and fingers—becomes compressed or pinched. Specifically, this nerve supplies sensations to your thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. As a result, you can experience symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and fingers.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually come on gradually and may come and go for months or years. You may first notice symptoms at night in one or both hands, with more severe symptoms in your dominant hand.

As your condition progresses, symptoms may worsen and become more persistent, affecting daily activities and disrupting sleep. It can also be common to develop weakness in the dominant hand and struggle with grip strength and fine motor skills (such as writing with a pen). Recognizing the symptoms early can help you get a prompt diagnosis and prevent long-term complications.

Numbness and Tingling

Numbness and tingling sensations in the hand and fingers are classic symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The median nerve provides sensation to these fingers and compression of the nerve can disrupt the ability to properly transmit signals to the brain. As a result, you may experience numbness and tingling, a sensation that feels like “pins and needles", or shooting pains along the side of the hand and wrist. Generally, the pain can be brief but intense.

Sleeping with flexed or bent wrists can put additional pressure on the median nerve. For many people, waking up at night with tingling and numbness in the fingers and hand is the first sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. These sensations may initially be mild and sporadic but tend to worsen over time and become more severe as the condition progresses.

Pain

Pain in your wrist and palm is a common symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. When ligaments and tendons in the carpal tunnel (the narrow passageway the median nerve runs through) become swollen and inflamed, they can put pressure on the median nerve, which can cause pain to occur.

The pain can vary in intensity, ranging from a dull ache to a sharp, shooting sensation. At first, you might feel pain when making repetitive hand movements (e.g., typing on a computer). Shaking out your hand or gently massaging it may provide temporary relief. As carpal tunnel syndrome worsens, pain may become more persistent and radiate to the forearm or shoulder, making it difficult to perform daily activities—like picking up heavy items or cooking.

Swelling

With carpal tunnel syndrome, you may feel like your fingers and hands are swollen—even if there are no visible signs of swelling. Inflammation and swelling of the tissues surrounding the carpal tunnel (such as your ligaments and tendons) may make your fingers feel swollen or tender to the touch. You may notice a sense of tightness or discomfort in the affected hand, making it challenging to perform everyday tasks.

Weakness

Carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to hand weakness—especially in the thumbs. Hand weakness is a symptom of more advanced carpal tunnel syndrome due to chronic (long-term) compression of the median nerve, which controls muscles in the thumb and fingers.

Over time, the compromised function of the median nerve can weaken and shrink muscles at the base of the thumb. This can make it difficult to perform daily tasks that require grip strength or fine motor skills, such as turning doorknobs, holding a spoon or fork, or buttoning up a shirt.

Sleep Disturbances

Many people with carpal tunnel syndrome report waking up frequently at night with symptoms such as pain and tingling in the hand and wrist. Sleeping with your wrist bent forward can also increase pressure on the median nerve and worsen symptoms.

Research suggests that sleeping on your side and using pillows under your elbows or wrists for support may help reduce nighttime waking and pain related to carpal tunnel syndrome. If you wake up at night feeling pain, tingling, or numbness in your hand, you may find relief by using a nighttime wrist splint or resting your hand from using it too much.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

If you think you have symptoms of CTS or are experiencing worsening hand pain, it's good practice to contact a healthcare provider. Generally, you should see your provider if you have the following symptoms for more than weeks:

  • Numbness, tingling, or electric-like shocks in your hand

  • Pain in your hand, fingers, or forearm

  • Frequent nighttime waking due to tingling, pain, or numbness

  • Weakness in the hand, thumb, or fingers

  • Difficulty performing daily tasks or holding objects between your index finger and thumb

Less commonly, severe carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, especially following an injury or trauma to the wrist or hand, can indicate a more serious form of carpal tunnel syndrome that requires immediate treatment. Seek prompt medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

  • Sudden hand and wrist pain

  • Loss of hand function

  • Inability to move your fingers

  • Loss of sensation in your hand or fingers

A Quick Review

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms may include numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and fingers. Symptoms often develop gradually and may come and go for long periods of time. As the condition progresses, people with carpal tunnel syndrome may experience weakness in the affected hand and have difficulty performing daily activities, especially those that involve the thumb and forefinger (e.g., typing, writing with a pen, or buttoning shirts).

CTS can be an uncomfortable condition to live with, as it can often disrupt daily life, especially if symptoms are left untreated. Seeing a healthcare provider is an important step in receiving the care you need to manage symptoms, promote healing, and prevent complications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggers carpal tunnel syndrome?

Repetitive hand movements, injuries, working with vibrating tools (e.g., jackhammer), certain health conditions, and frequently sleeping on a bent wrist can lead to compression of the median nerve in the wrist. Over time, this compression can cause carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, such as tingling and numbness in the hands and fingers.

Does carpal tunnel heal on its own?

In some cases, mild carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms may improve with at-home treatments, such as rest, wearing a splint at night, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. However, carpal tunnel syndrome is a progressive condition that can worsen if left untreated. Working with a healthcare provider is the best way to determine the most effective treatment plan for you.

At what age do people get carpal tunnel?

Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect people of all ages, but is most common in adults between 40 and 60 years old.

Is carpal tunnel a form of arthritis?

No, carpal tunnel syndrome is not a form of arthritis. It is a separate condition caused by nerve compression in the wrist, whereas arthritis causes joint inflammation and pain.

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