The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can include pain or numbness in the hand and wrist, and weakness of the muscles in the fingers and thumb. These symptoms are caused by compression of the median nerve (the nerve that supplies the palm and fingers) as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The pain (often described as a tingling or burning sensation) is often worse at night and can extend into the whole hand, and even sometimes up the arm into the elbow, shoulder and neck. Sometimes just one hand is affected, sometimes both are.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be brought on and aggravated by repetitive use (eg typing or using a mouse at the computer), although it is also linked with various underlying conditions, including diabetes. This often leads to the symptoms being mistaken for neuropathy (nerve damage).
A nerve conduction test can be used to measure electrical impulses along the median nerve. A slow impulse speed confirms a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, although sometimes it will be diagnosed on the strength of symptoms alone.
Sometimes carpal tunnel syndrome goes away without any treatment. In other cases rest and anti-inflammatory painkillers can help. If carpal tunnel syndrome is due to repetitive use then ergonomic advice can help, eg correcting your posture at your workstation. Sometimes splints are used to restrict the movement of the wrist for a number of weeks to give it complete rest. Physiotherapy, including massage of the hand and gentle exercises, can also help, and ultrasound may be beneficial too.