Carpal Tunnel – Numb Hand: Causes and Treatment
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve is squeezed at the wrist. It causes numbness, tingling and pain in the fingers, especially at night, and mild to moderate cases often respond well to conservative treatment.
What carpal tunnel is
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in the wrist, formed by the wrist bones with a thick ligament across the top. The median nerve and the tendons that bend the fingers run through it. When the tunnel narrows or the tissue inside swells, the nerve is compressed and the hand starts to go numb.
Numbness is typically felt in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger – the little finger is usually spared. Symptoms often worsen at night and in the morning, and ease when you shake or move the hand.
Mild and moderate cases often respond to conservative treatment – changing the load, a night splint, exercises and physiotherapy. More severe cases, with constant numbness or muscle weakness, need a neurologist or orthopaedic opinion and sometimes surgery.
Common causes
- repetitive wrist and hand movements
- long hours at a computer and mouse
- pregnancy and hormonal changes
- diabetes and thyroid disorders
- arthritis and wrist injuries
- work with vibrating tools
How it feels
- numbness and tingling in the thumb, index and middle finger
- waking at night with a numb hand
- wrist pain that spreads into the forearm
- weak grip and dropping objects
- a feeling of swelling in the fingers
- relief when you move or shake the hand
How we can help
We start by assessing your wrist, hand, neck and shoulder girdle, because tension along the path of the nerve often reaches beyond the wrist itself. We combine manual therapy, nerve mobilisation, therapeutic exercise, physiotherapy equipment, and advice on workplace ergonomics and splint use. If needed, we will refer you to a specialist for further tests.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for constant numbness that does not settle, visible wasting of the muscle at the base of the thumb, rapidly worsening weakness, or being unable to grip and hold objects. The sooner the pressure on the nerve is relieved, the better the outcome.
This page is for information only and does not replace an assessment by a specialist.