Waking at night with a numb hand and shaking it back to life? Dropping small objects, tingling at the wheel or on your phone? That is the classic picture of carpal tunnel syndrome — the body’s most common nerve compression.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
The median nerve runs through the bony, fibrous “tunnel” of the wrist together with the flexor tendons. When pressure in the tunnel rises — through overuse, fluid retention or prolonged positions — the nerve is compressed: numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle and half the ring finger.
Common symptoms
Night-time numbness and tingling that wakes you, symptoms when holding a phone, wheel or book, dropping small objects, weaker grip — and in advanced stages constant numbness and wasting of the thumb-base muscle (a severity sign).
Common causes
Repetitive hand and wrist work (desk or manual trades), prolonged wrist flexion (including in sleep), pregnancy and fluid retention, diabetes, hypothyroidism and anatomical predisposition. It frequently coexists with cervical compression — “double crush”.
Can it be treated without surgery?
Mild and moderate cases caught early — yes: a night splint, nerve gliding, ergonomic correction and treating the associated cervical chain have good evidence. Severe cases with motor deficit or constant numbness have a surgical indication — and timely surgery gives excellent results.
How we treat carpal tunnel at Medicine Park
Full testing (including differentiation from cervical compression), then the plan: median nerve mobilisation techniques, manual therapy for the wrist and arm chain, night-splint guidance, desk ergonomics and objective progress monitoring. If your picture needs EMG or a surgical consult, we refer you honestly. All in English.
How long does recovery take?
Mild forms: typical improvement in 4–6 weeks. Moderate: 6–12 weeks with a complete programme. Severity decides — which is why early assessment matters.
When to seek help
If night numbness has become the rule or your grip is weakening, do not postpone. Your first assessment at Medicine Park is free.
