What you may feel
- Tingling or numbness in the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger.
- Symptoms often worsen at night and may wake you.
- Holding a phone or keeping the wrist bent may increase discomfort.
- Shaking the hand may temporarily ease the symptoms.
- Thumb weakness, difficulty with fine tasks or dropping objects warrant assessment.
How it is assessed
Sensation and muscle strength are checked. Nerve conduction studies may clarify the severity of compression.
Identify the precise areas of pain and numbness and describe the effect of touch. Bring details of other conditions, medicines and previous procedures.
Approaches to care
Depending on severity, care may include wrist positioning, a night splint and other treatments. Persistent weakness needs assessment.
Discuss how pain affects sleep, work and movement. At follow-up, report changes in sensation and strength as well as pain intensity.
When to seek urgent help
Sudden or rapidly increasing weakness, abrupt loss of sensation or new bladder or bowel problems need immediate assessment.
Further reading: NHS
This is educational information and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Similar symptoms alone do not establish a diagnosis.