Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

If you have numbness and tingling in your fingers that often feels worse at night, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Not everyone with pain in their hands and fingers is experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome, though. The condition is often misdiagnosed, so it's essential to see a doctor who can properly diagnose your specific situation and help determine how you can alleviate the symptoms.

Here, we look at what carpal tunnel syndrome is, what causes it, treatments that may help and more.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in the thumb through the ring fingers. It affects women three times more than men.¹

An estimated 10 million people in the United States have carpal tunnel syndrome. Everyday activities that require fine motor skills, such as using a computer or holding a car’s steering wheel, can make it worse.²

Causes

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when increased pressure within the carpal tunnel compresses the median nerve. The carpal tunnel is an opening in the wrist formed by the carpal bones at the base and the transverse carpal ligament across the wrist. This pressure can squeeze the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel, across your wrist and into the palm.¹

The median nerve is responsible for sensation and motor functions in the thumb and the three middle fingers. When this nerve is compressed or irritated, it leads to the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.¹

It's often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the increased pressure in the carpal tunnel that leads to compression of the median nerve. Here are some possible causes:¹

• Anatomy. In some cases, the carpal tunnel is naturally smaller, a trait more common in women than men. This smaller-than-average carpal tunnel is sometimes hereditary. Additionally, conditions like osteoarthritis or wrist trauma can change the shape of bones and joints, further narrowing the carpal tunnel and increasing the risk of median nerve compression.

• Swelling and inflammation. Swelling in and around the carpal tunnel can press on the median nerve. This swelling may be caused by extended periods of wrist extension or flexion, frequent and repetitive hand movements or inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Hormonal or metabolic changes, such as pregnancy, thyroid imbalance or menopause, can also lead to swelling, further increasing the likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Other factors. Factors that may contribute include changes in blood sugar levels, such as with type 2 diabetes, or other wrist conditions or injuries, such as sprains, strains, dislocations or breaks.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include weakness when gripping an object, or pain and/or numbness in one or both hands. Your fingers may feel like they are on “pins and needles” or swollen, or you may experience burning or tingling, especially in the thumb, index finger and middle fingers. Pain and numbness often feel worse at night, making it hard to sleep.¹

Symptoms can mimic those caused by other medical conditions, so it’s important to consult your doctor for a diagnosis.¹

Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, if needed, as soon as possible. Delaying diagnosis and care may mean further damage to the median nerve.³

When diagnosing carpel tunnel syndrome, a doctor will examine your hands, arms, shoulders and neck. They will assess whether daily activities or another disorder is causing your symptoms. The doctor may tap or press on your median nerve and your wrist and ask you to flex your wrist to see if that causes tingling or numbness. Additionally, they will check the sensation in your fingers and examine the muscles at the base of your hand for strength and any signs of weakening.³

In some cases, a physical exam cannot diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. Your doctor may then order a nerve conduction study to measure the speed at which a nerve transmits signals, specifically checking for any slowing of signals at the carpal tunnel. They may also order an electromyography, which can determine how severe any muscle damage is, or an ultrasound to check for swelling of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel.³

In certain situations, the doctor may order X-rays or other lab tests to check for arthritis, fractures or other diseases such as diabetes that could be damaging the nerves.³

Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are various types of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Your doctor can advise what may work best for your situation.

Non-surgical treatments

Wearing a splint on the hand and wrist at night may help with carpal tunnel pain, as can steroid injections, which can temporarily help with symptoms.³

Physical therapy may help people with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome to restore strength and mobility to their hands and wrists. However, physical therapy can sometimes be time-consuming, expensive or even impractical if you work at a job that causes repetitive stress on your hands and wrists. Also, your condition may be past the point where physical therapy can aid with significant pain relief.⁴

Some people find that specific home remedies can relieve carpal tunnel pain. Here are some ideas:⁵

• Magnesium. Magnesium can aid in muscle relaxation and may help reduce inflammation. Consider supplements, or increase your intake of magnesium-rich foods, such as leafy greens, nuts and whole grains.

• Omega-3 fatty acids. These may provide anti-inflammatory relief and are essential for nerve function. They are available through fish oil supplements or in foods like flaxseed, walnuts and avocados.

• Turmeric. This is another anti-inflammatory that can help reduce swelling and pain. There are turmeric supplements, or you can add the spice to your food.

• Vitamin B6. You can get B6 from food sources like chicken, fish, avocados and bananas or through supplements. It can help increase blood flow, keep nerve cells healthy and reduce inflammation.

• Vitamin E. This antioxidant may help reduce inflammation and improve nerve function. You can find vitamin E in supplements or naturally in foods like sweet potatoes, spinach and almonds.

• Heat or ice. Soak wrists in warm water up to three or four times daily to help relax muscles. You can also soak your wrist in an ice bath for 10 to 15 minutes every hour to reduce inflammation.⁶

• Topical gels. Some studies show that topical treatments like menthol or arnica gel can help with carpal tunnel pain.⁶

Surgical treatments

Your doctor may recommend carpal tunnel release, one of the most common surgeries in the U.S. The doctor makes a small incision and cuts a ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve.³

• Open-release surgery. This is the traditional type of surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. The surgeon makes an incision in the wrist and cuts the carpal ligament to enlarge the carpal tunnel. It’s usually done under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.³

• Endoscopic surgery. A surgeon makes one or two small incisions in your wrist and palm and then inserts a camera attached to a tube. That lets them see the nerve, ligament and tendons on a monitor and guides the surgeon as they cut the carpal ligament with a small knife inserted through the tube. There’s usually less discomfort with endoscopic surgery, and recovery is often quicker.³

How Much Does Carpal Tunnel Surgery Cost?

The average cost of carpal tunnel surgery varies depending on how and where the surgery is performed and other factors. A search of the top 50 orthopedic surgery hospitals found a median cost of $10,273. That ranged from $1,810 to $19,112, according to the orthopedic surgery hospitals' cost estimate tools.⁷

Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

You can make adjustments to your daily routine to reduce stress on your hands and wrists, helping prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Here are some strategies to consider:⁸

• Limit repetitive hand movements.

• Keep your wrists straight or in a neutral position.

• Avoid holding something in the same manner for an extended period.

• Alternate tasks or activities to reduce the strain on your hands and wrists.

• Adjust your desk, chair and keyboard so your forearms are level with the work surface.

• Wear a splint at night to keep your wrist straight while you sleep.

If you feel numbness or tingling in your fingers and suspect you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, don’t wait — promptly see a doctor for a diagnosis. The sooner a doctor diagnoses your carpal tunnel syndrome and you begin treatment, the better your chances for a successful outcome.²

Frequently Asked Questions About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Do you still have questions about carpal tunnel syndrome? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about this condition.

Managing Health and Wellness Costs With the CareCredit Credit Card

If you are looking for an option to help manage your health and wellness costs, consider financing with the CareCredit credit card. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for the care you want and need and make payments easy to manage.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a provider near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

Your CareCredit credit card can be used in so many ways within the CareCredit network including vision, dentistry, cosmetic, pet care, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases and spa treatments. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Leslie Lang is a writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, banking and finance and technology. She has written for leading publications and organizations, including GoodRx.com, Healthgrades.com, Google, Adobe, Microsoft and more.