Numbness, tingling or pain in your hand that flares at night? You could have carpal tunnel syndrome, one of the most common nerve problems of the wrist and hand. It happens when a nerve gets compressed at the wrist, and while it can be annoying and even painful, there is plenty you can do about it once you know what you are dealing with.
In this guide we explain what carpal tunnel syndrome is, how to know if you have it, what causes the wrist pain and numbness, and how physiotherapy can help.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in your wrist that the median nerve passes through, alongside the tendons that bend your fingers. It is sometimes shortened to CTS, and happens when that nerve gets compressed or irritated in the tunnel. The median nerve supplies feeling to your thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger, which is exactly where symptoms show up. It ranges from mild and occasional to persistent and disruptive, and it often builds gradually rather than appearing overnight.
Signs You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
How do you know if it is the cause? The classic signs are numbness, tingling or pins and needles in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often worse at night or first thing in the morning. Many people wake up needing to shake the hand out. You may also notice wrist pain, a weaker grip, or dropping things. Symptoms that follow this pattern strongly suggest CTS rather than another hand problem.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
It develops when anything reduces the space in the tunnel or irritates the nerve, causing that familiar wrist pain and numbness. Repetitive hand and wrist use, sustained gripping and vibration can contribute, and it is more common during pregnancy, with certain health conditions, and as we age. Often there is no single cause. The good news is that many contributing factors can be managed, which is where treatment comes in.
How Physiotherapy Helps
For mild to moderate cases, physiotherapy is a great first-line option. A physiotherapist can confirm what is going on, fit or recommend a wrist splint, especially useful at night, and guide you through nerve gliding exercises and activity changes that take pressure off the nerve. Physiotherapy also addresses contributing factors like posture and wrist loading. Many people settle their symptoms this way without needing anything more invasive, and starting early tends to give the best results.
Self-Help That Helps
There is a lot you can do yourself. Wearing a wrist splint at night keeps the wrist neutral and often eases night-time numbness and wrist pain. Take regular breaks from repetitive tasks, set up your desk and keyboard well, and avoid prolonged bent-wrist positions. Gentle nerve and tendon glides can help too. These simple steps often make a real difference to your symptoms.
When to Seek Further Help
Most cases are manageable, but some signs mean you should get assessed promptly. See a doctor if you have constant rather than intermittent numbness, weakness or wasting of the muscles at the base of the thumb, or symptoms that are not improving with conservative care. In these cases, further investigation or a specialist opinion, and occasionally surgery, may be needed to protect the nerve.
Common Questions About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What does carpal tunnel feel like?
Numbness, tingling or pins and needles in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often worse at night, sometimes with wrist pain and a weaker grip.
Will it go away on its own?
Mild cases, including pregnancy-related ones, can settle, especially with splinting and activity changes. Persistent symptoms usually need treatment to improve and to protect the nerve.
Does it need surgery?
Not usually. Many cases improve with physiotherapy, splinting and activity changes. Surgery is reserved for severe or stubborn cases, and that decision is made with a specialist.
Can physiotherapy fix it?
For mild to moderate cases, physiotherapy often eases symptoms well through splinting, nerve glides and activity changes. More severe cases may need further help.
What makes it worse?
Repetitive gripping, vibration, and prolonged bent-wrist positions, including at night, tend to aggravate it. Managing these often reduces symptoms.
How BeFit Can Help
At BeFit Training Physiotherapy, we assess and treat it and get your hands feeling normal again. Our general physiotherapy and sports physiotherapy teams confirm the diagnosis, ease your wrist pain and numbness, and build a plan of splinting, exercises and activity changes, and a mobility assessment can help identify contributing factors. Initial consultations run for 45 minutes, one-on-one.
Our team at Edgecliff and Coogee would be glad to help. No referral is required, and HICAPS is available on-site for immediate health fund claiming.
Book an appointment at BeFit Training Physiotherapy — no referral needed.
Edgecliff: (02) 9327 7749 | Coogee: (02) 7205 2805 | befittrainingphysio.com/book-now
Related Services at BeFit
Learn more about how our team can help:
General Physiotherapy
Sports Physiotherapy
Mobility Assessment
References
Huisstede BM, et al. Carpal tunnel syndrome: effectiveness of physical therapy and electrophysical modalities. An updated systematic review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018.
Page MJ, et al. Splinting for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012.
Australian Physiotherapy Association. Clinical guidelines. physiotherapy.asn.au.
