Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Overview

The median nerve is a major nerve that provides both sensation and motor function to parts of the hand, allowing for movement and feeling. It passes through a narrow passage in the wrist known as the carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when excessive pressure is applied to the median nerve within this tunnel. 

This common condition can lead to pain, numbness, tingling, or a pins-and-needles sensation in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and thumb side of the ring finger. If left untreated, prolonged compression of the median nerve can result in permanent nerve damage, weakness, and loss of hand function.

What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Often, the exact cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown, or it develops due to a combination of factors. Increased pressure on the median nerve commonly results from swelling of the flexor tendon lining, which is the fibrous cord connecting the forearm muscles to the finger bones.

Athletes and individuals are at higher risk when activities require the wrist to remain in a fixed or flexed position for long periods or involve repetitive wrist movements.

How the Injury Occurs: Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when repetitive wrist movements or sustained pressure cause inflammation and swelling within the carpal tunnel, reducing space for the median nerve and leading to nerve compression.

Common Everyday Causes

• Repetitive typing or mouse use
• Prolonged smartphone or device use
• Poor wrist posture while working or sleeping
• Repetitive hand tools or machinery use
• Prolonged gripping or vibration exposure

Carpal tunnel syndrome is most common in these sports:

• Tennis – Repeated gripping and wrist motion can irritate the tendons and compress the nerve.
• Racketball – Forceful, repetitive wrist flexion places strain on the carpal tunnel.
• Squash – Continuous swinging and gripping increase pressure within the wrist.
• Cycling – Prolonged pressure on the handlebars can compress the median nerve.

Symptoms

People with carpal tunnel syndrome typically experience pain, numbness, and a tingling sensation in the hand usually involving the thumb, index and middle fingers.. Other common symptoms include:

• Pain, numbness, or tingling that wakes you up from sleep: Symptoms often worsen at night due to wrist position.
• Symptoms occur when holding the wrist fixed or flexed: Activities like driving, reading, or gripping a racket or handlebar can trigger discomfort.
• Weakness in the hands: Reduced grip strength may make it difficult to hold objects.
• Permanent loss of sensation in the affected fingers: Long-term nerve compression can lead to lasting numbness if untreated.

Non-operative treatment

Carpal tunnel syndrome is commonly treated without surgery, particularly in its early stages. Your doctor may recommend the following carpal tunnel syndrome treatments:

• Changing or modifying activities that keep your wrist in a prolonged fixed or flexed position. This may involve avoiding certain sports, such as tennis or racquetball, that put stress on your wrist.
• Wearing a splint at night may be advised to keep the wrist out of a flexed position.
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can help relieve pain and inflammation.
• Corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory agent) injected into the carpal tunnel may be used to relieve intense pain.
• Hand therapy exercises may be recommended.

Try these exercises to help address your condition:

Below is a PDF of the exercise program.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Surgical Treatment

If non-surgical treatments do not relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon may recommend a procedure called carpal tunnel release, which creates more space for the median nerve. This is done by cutting the ligament that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel, reducing pressure on the nerve and relieving symptoms.