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Numbness in hands
Tingling
Leg pain
Hand tingling
Numbness is worse on the left side
Feet cold
Problems with writing
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal tunnel is an area in the wrist where nerves travel. When the tunnel is compressed, symptoms of numbness or pain in the fingers can occur. Common triggers include long periods of typing on keyboards, pregnancy, and diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Typical Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Numbness in the fingers
- Tingling or prickling sensation without touching the skin
- Fatigue or low energy that is worse in the morning
- Numbness or tingling
- Kidney failure on dialysis
- Writing difficulties
- I use my hands a lot at work - holding babies, writing, typing
- Pain in finger joints
Diagnostic Questions for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you experience numbness in your fingers?
- Do you feel tingling or prickling sensations in your skin?
- Do you experience fatigue or low energy that is worse in the morning?
- Have you been experiencing any numbness or tingling?
- Are you currently on dialysis?
Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Mild cases can improve with painkillers and rest with a splint. Sometimes, a steroid injection to the carpal tunnel may be helpful. Severe cases may require minor surgery. Treatment continues with physical therapy to improve muscle strength and relieve symptoms.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Hand numbness
- Numbness in the fingers
- The fingers of both hands are numb
- Finger numbness
- The middle finger of the left hand is numb
- Numbness in left hand
- Numbness
- Wrist numbness
- Ulnar tunnel syndrome
- Palms numb
- Numbness in the tip of my finger
- The index finger is numb
- Off balance
- The left half of the body is numb
- Poor coordination
See full list
Symptoms Related to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diseases Related to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
FAQs
Q.
Carpal Tunnel? Why Your Hand Is Tingling and Medically Approved Steps
A.
Hand tingling, numbness, and nighttime waking are often caused by carpal tunnel syndrome from median nerve compression, and most cases improve with medically approved steps like activity modification, nighttime wrist splints, short courses of NSAIDs or a corticosteroid injection, therapy, and surgery when severe. There are several factors to consider, including other conditions that mimic it, risk factors, and urgent red flags; see below for the full checklist, prevention tips, diagnosis options, and guidance on when to see a doctor so you can choose the right next step.
References:
* Shiel, S. H., & Johnston, T. M. (2020). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review. *Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine*, *13*(5), 652-663. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32977508/
* Bagatur, E., & Zorer, G. (2019). Carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical presentation, diagnosis, and non-surgical management. *European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology*, *29*(8), 1735-1741. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31605370/
* Ibrahim, I., Khan, W. S., & Patel, S. (2020). Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. *Orthopedic Reviews*, *12*(Suppl 1), 8432. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32332092/
* Rozmaryn, L. M., Bindra, R. R., Budoff, J. E., et al. (2022). Diagnosis and Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. *Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons*, *30*(20), e1100-e1107. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36302324/
* Kim, S., & Lee, S. K. (2020). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: New Insights. *Journal of Korean Medical Science*, *35*(35), e316. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32976722/
Q.
Hand Numbness? Why Your Wrist Has Carpal Tunnel & Medical Next Steps
A.
Hand numbness, tingling, or weakness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers is often carpal tunnel from median nerve compression; first steps are night wrist splints, activity and ergonomic changes, short-term anti-inflammatories, and sometimes a steroid injection, with surgery considered if symptoms persist, are severe, or cause weakness to avoid permanent damage. There are several factors and look-alike conditions to consider, including diabetes, thyroid disease, pregnancy, neck pinched nerves, and ulnar nerve problems. Seek emergency care for sudden numbness with facial droop, arm weakness, speech trouble, or a severe headache, and see the complete next-step guide below to decide when to get evaluated and which treatments fit best.
References:
* Bland JD. Carpal tunnel syndrome. BMJ. 2020 Jul 20;370:m2619. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m2619. Erratum in: BMJ. 2020 Sep 17;370:m3610. PMID: 32679237.
* Padua L, Coraci D, Erra C, Pazzaglia C, Lucchetti C, Caliandro P, Pasqualetti P, Plazzi G, Di Trapani G. Carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, and management. Lancet Neurol. 2021 Jan;20(1):85-94. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30321-4. PMID: 33451515.
* Burton C, Saville J, Edwards A, et al. Effectiveness of conservative interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43(15):2079-2099. doi:10.1080/09638288.2019.1685371. Epub 2019 Nov 14. PMID: 31724495.
* Ghasemi M, Sadeghian R, Razavi SS, Jafari M, Ghamari H, Moghaddam A, Ebrahimi H, Aslani H, Moghaddam J, Almasi-Doghaee M, Abdollahimajd F. Outcomes of surgical versus non-surgical treatment in carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Jul 10;22(1):599. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04473-w. PMID: 34246816; PMCID: PMC8270502.
* Ghasemi M, Abdollahimajd F, Sadeghian R, Jafari M, Almasi-Doghaee M, Moghaddam A, Ebrahimi H, Aslani H, Moghaddam J, Ghamari H. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Narrative Review of Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. J Pain Res. 2023 Jul 13;16:2147-2158. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S414561. PMID: 37475149; PMCID: PMC10355153.
Q.
"Electric" Hand Pain? Why Your Wrist Is Sending Shocks & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Electric, shock-like pain in the hand is usually nerve related, most often carpal tunnel from median nerve compression that affects the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger and often worsens at night, though other causes like a pinched neck nerve, ulnar nerve compression, or neuropathy are possible. There are several factors to consider, and medically approved next steps range from night wrist splints and ergonomic changes to anti inflammatory treatments, therapy, and sometimes surgery, with urgent red flags like sudden arm weakness or stroke-like symptoms needing immediate care, so see the complete guidance and what to do next below.
References:
* Chou, W. Y., & Chen, K. H. (2021). Carpal tunnel syndrome: a review of the recent literature. *Muscle & Nerve*, *64*(2), 154-162.
* Dydyk, A. M., & Massa, R. N. (2023). Diagnosis and Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. *Seminars in Neurology*, *43*(1), 1-13.
* Shuaib, A., Nayeem, M., Arumugam, N., & Bhowmik, M. K. (2020). Systematic Review of Non-Surgical Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. *Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma*, *11*(S4), S614-S620.
* Bland, J. D. (2018). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations. *Neurologic Clinics*, *36*(4), 627-635.
* Sevy, R. A., & Varacallo, M. (2021). Current Concepts in the Diagnosis and Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. *StatPearls [Internet]*. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Q.
Hand Zapping? Why Your Wrist is Numb & Medical Carpal Tunnel Steps
A.
A zapping or numb feeling in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger often points to carpal tunnel from median nerve compression, often worse at night, with risks from repetitive use, diabetes or thyroid disease, pregnancy, and wrist anatomy. Diagnosis uses your history, an exam, and sometimes nerve tests, and treatment steps progress from night wrist splints and ergonomic changes to NSAIDs or steroid injections, therapy, and surgery if symptoms are severe or persistent; knowing when to seek care is crucial. There are several factors to consider, and important details that could change your next steps are explained below.
References:
* Chianca, M. L., De Freitas, G. R., & Sampaio, F. R. (2020). Carpal tunnel syndrome: Current concepts. European Journal of Neurology, 27(10), 1899-1910.
* Genova, A., Dix, O., & Botta, A. (2022). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review of Latest Evidence. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 32(3), 200-207.
* Verma, S. K., & Khurana, M. (2022). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: An Update. Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma, 26, 101777.
* Padua, L., Coraci, D., Erra, C., Pazzaglia, C., Paolasso, I., Cozzolino, E., & Lucchetti, F. (2016). Carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, and management. BMJ open, 6(11), e012638.
* Shi, Q., MacDermid, J. C., & Walton, D. M. (2020). Effectiveness of Non-Surgical Interventions for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Hand Therapy, 33(3), 362-378.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Padua L, Coraci D, Erra C, Pazzaglia C, Paolasso I, Loreti C, Caliandro P, Hobson-Webb LD. Carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, and management. Lancet Neurol. 2016 Nov;15(12):1273-1284. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(16)30231-9. Epub 2016 Oct 11. PMID: 27751557.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(16)30231-9/fulltextWang L. Guiding Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2018 Nov;29(4):751-760. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2018.06.009. Epub 2018 Sep 17. PMID: 30293628.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1047965118307964?via%3DihubKim PT, Lee HJ, Kim TG, Jeon IH. Current approaches for carpal tunnel syndrome. Clin Orthop Surg. 2014 Sep;6(3):253-7. doi: 10.4055/cios.2014.6.3.253. Epub 2014 Aug 5. PMID: 25177448; PMCID: PMC4143510.
https://ecios.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4055/cios.2014.6.3.253Middleton SD, Anakwe RE. Carpal tunnel syndrome. BMJ. 2014 Nov 6;349:g6437. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g6437. PMID: 25378457.
https://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6437Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Am Fam Physician. 2016 Dec 15;94(12):Online. PMID: 28075099.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2016/1215/p993-s1.html