Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome have numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and fingers. The thumb, index, and middle fingers are usually feel the worst. Some patients notice that the hand feels cold, swollen, “asleep” or feel “poor circulation” in the fingers. Symptoms can awaken patients at night with “pins and needles” pain and tingling in the hands and patients shake out their hands for relief. Some patients report increased symptoms while gripping a steering wheel or reading a book in bed. Initially the symptoms come and go, but sometimes, the numbness can become constant during the day. Dropping objects or having a weak grip are also common complaints. Atrophy of the thumb muscles occurs in severe or long-standing cases.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel:
- Numbness
- “Pins and needles” feeling in the fingers
- Tingling sensations in the hands
- Awakening at night with the hand numb or asleep
- Feeling of swelling in the fingers
- Weakness in the hands, dropping things
- Atrophy of the thumb muscles