Carpal tunnel syndrome is a specific group of symptoms including tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in the fingers or hand and occasionally in the forearm and elbow.

Bounded by bones and ligaments, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway - about as big around as your thumb - on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve (median nerve) to your hand and nine tendons that bend your fingers. Pressure placed on the nerve produces the numbness, pain and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.

Fortunately, for most people who develop carpal tunnel syndrome, proper treatment usually can relieve the pain and numbness and restore normal use of the wrists and hands.

Signs and symptoms 

Carpal tunnel syndrome typically starts gradually, with a vague aching in your wrist that can extend to your hand or forearm. Other common signs and symptoms include:

• Tingling or numbness in your fingers or hand, especially your thumb, index, middle or ring fingers, but not your little finger. This sensation often occurs while driving a vehicle or holding a phone or a newspaper, or upon awakening.

• Pain radiating or extending from your wrist up your arm to your shoulder or down into your palm or fingers, especially after forceful or repetitive use. This usually occurs on the front (palm) side of your forearm.

• A sense of weakness in your hands, and a tendency to drop objects.

• A constant loss of feeling in some fingers. This can occur if the condition is advanced.

Carpal tunnel syndrome > next > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4