Waking up with a numb thumb or pins-and-needles in your fingers? That night-time tingle is classic for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). About 3% of adults get it at some point. It happens when the median nerve — the one that runs through a tight tunnel in your wrist — gets squeezed. You don’t need to panic, but you do need a plan.
Symptoms usually start slowly. Expect numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger, often worse at night. You might drop small objects, feel weakness in your grip, or notice thumb muscle wasting in long-standing cases. If your pain shoots up the arm or you have neck pain too, that could mean something else is going on.
Simple office checks can point to CTS. Try the Phalen test (flex your wrists by pressing the backs of your hands together for 60 seconds) — if tingling starts, that’s a clue. Tinel’s test taps the wrist skin; a tingling sensation can also suggest CTS. Your doctor may order nerve conduction studies or ultrasound when the diagnosis is unclear or before surgery.
Start with the least invasive fixes. Wrist splints worn at night keep your wrist straight and often stop the tingling. If you do repetitive work, changing hand position, taking short breaks, or using ergonomic tools can reduce symptoms fast. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help with inflammation for short-term flare-ups.
If splints and ergonomics aren’t enough, a steroid injection into the carpal tunnel often gives good relief for weeks to months. That can be enough to avoid surgery or buy time for other treatments. For persistent or severe weakness, carpal tunnel release surgery is the reliable fix — it opens the tunnel so the nerve stops getting crushed. Most people recover grip strength and lose the numbness after surgery, though recovery can take weeks to months.
Don’t ignore warning signs: constant numbness, muscle wasting at the base of the thumb, or significant loss of hand strength need faster evaluation. Also mention conditions like diabetes, pregnancy, or thyroid problems to your clinician — they raise CTS risk and change how it’s managed.
Practical prevention is simple: keep a neutral wrist, reduce repetitive hand force when possible, take frequent short breaks, and keep an eye on blood sugar and thyroid health. If you type a lot, try a split keyboard or a vertical mouse; if your job involves forceful gripping, rotate tasks or ask about adaptive tools.
Carpal tunnel is common and usually treatable. Small changes and early steps like splints and ergonomics can stop progression. If you’re still waking up with numb fingers after a few weeks, see a doctor — early care makes a big difference.
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