Numbness in the hands and pain in the wrist? You might have carpal tunnel syndrome!

Does this sound familiar? You wake up in the middle of the night because you are awakened byunpleasant tingling in your hand, and in the morning you can barely hold your toothbrush. During the day, your phone falls out of your hand, and your fingers seem not to listen. You might have thought it's just a "bad position" or a temporary consequence of working on a computer. But if these symptoms persist—you need to seriously consider seeking medical assistance.

Numbness, tingling, a burning sensation, weak grip—these are all signs that indicate something more than ordinary fatigue. It is highly possible that it iscarpal tunnel syndrome, one of the most common yet often overlooked causes of hand pain and dysfunction.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when there is pressure on themedian nerve (nervus medianus), which runs through a narrow "tunnel" in the wrist area—between the bones and the ligament of the palm. This channel is normally tightly defined, and when the space in it decreases due toinflammation, swelling, or repetitive movements, the nerve becomes compressed.

The result? Numbness, pain, weakness, and reduced sensation in the first three fingers of the hand (thumb, index, and middle finger), sometimes even pain that radiates to the forearm. This pressure can bemild, occasional—or becomeconstant and increasingly intense, especially at night or during certain activities.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow place—but the problem is widespread. The incidence of the syndrome has significantly increased with modern lifestyles:prolonged typing, use of the mouse, repetitive movements at work (e.g., in manufacturing, packaging, construction) and evenfluid retention during pregnancy may contribute to its development.

Moreover, it affects women more often than men, and the risk increases in individuals withdiabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis, and rheumatological diseases.

Simply put—this is a condition that starts imperceptibly, butif ignored, it can seriously affect daily functioning.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and how can you recognize them?

Carpal tunnel syndrome almost always starts subtly—only with occasional tingling in the fingers, especially during the night or in the morning after waking up. However, over time, the symptoms become more frequent, intense, and increasingly impact daily activities.

The most common symptoms include:

• Numbness and tingling in the thumb, index finger, and middle finger (less often in the ring finger)
• Pain or burning that radiates to the forearm or elbow
• A feeling of weakness in the hand, especially when grasping objects
• Dropping objects from the hand due to reduced grip or loss of sensation
• Waking up at night due to discomfort in the hand that subsides after "shaking" the hand

In the early stages, symptoms come and go, but later they may becomepersistent and exhausting, especially during work, driving, or typing. In some patients, there may also be afeeling of swelling in the hand or difficulty with precision of movements (e.g., buttoning a shirt).

It is important to distinguish these symptoms from those originating from the cervical spine (e.g., cervical radiculopathy), where pain is often accompanied by pain in the neck and shoulders and also affects the little finger.

If you feel tingling and weakness in a hand that worsens at night, if you wake up with a "sleeping" hand or if objects are dropping from your hand more frequently—there is a high probability that the cause isthe carpal tunnel. And the sooner you recognize it—the easier it is to stop the worsening.

How is the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome made?

Although the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be very characteristic,an accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment—and for ruling out other potential causes, such as issues with the cervical spine, rheumatic diseases, or peripheral neuropathy.

The first step is aclinical examination, during which the doctor assesses the sensation, strength, and reflexes in the hand. Several simple tests are often used, such as:

• Tinel's sign—tapping over the carpal tunnel that induces tingling in the fingers
• Phalen's test—bending the wrist at a 90° angle for one minute, which induces symptoms in affected individuals

However, the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis isEMNG (electroneuromyography)—a test that precisely measures the conduction velocity of nerve impulses. It determines:

• How strong the pressure on the nerve is
• If there is damage to the muscles innervated by the median nerve
• Whether any other level is affected (e.g., cervical spine or other nerves in the hand)

The EMNG test isnon-invasive and safe, and its results provide clear insights into the severity of the condition and assist in deciding on further treatment.

So, if you have symptoms that suggest carpal tunnel—do not wait. Timely diagnosis can prevent permanent damage and significantly ease daily life.

Schedule an EMNG at Polyclinic Priska Med - no waiting list!

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: from orthoses to surgery

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome depends onthe severity of symptoms and duration of complaints. In earlier stages, when symptoms occur occasionally and do not interfere with daily functions, conservative treatment methods can be attempted.The conservative approach includes:Immobilization of the wrist

with night splints (orthoses) that keep the hand in a neutral position and reduce pressure on the nerve during sleep

• Physical therapy, focusing on stretching, relieving tension, and improving circulation
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to alleviate pain and inflammation
• In some cases,corticosteroid injections
• may temporarily relieve symptoms But when symptoms are

frequent, long-lasting, or do not recede

, and EMNG shows nerve conduction slowing—thensurgery is the quickest and most effective way to recovery.What does the operation involve?It is about

a small, safe, and short procedure

, which is performed at our Polyclinic Priska Med under local anesthesia. The surgeon releases the ligament that presses on the median nerve through a small incision, thereby restoring space and function to the nerve.The procedure lasts about 20 minutes

, and most patients return home the same day. Recovery is quick, and symptoms usually disappear within a few days to weeks, depending on the duration of pressure and the condition of the nerve before the operation.If the operation is done in a timely manner, the results are excellent and long-lasting

, with no need for repetition.Operation at Polyclinic Priska Med – expertise, speed, safetyAt Polyclinic Priska Med,

the carpal tunnel syndrome operation

is a regularly performed procedure that our surgical team conducts with high success and minimal burden for the patient.So far, we have performed hundreds of such operations

, with excellent results and an exceptionally low complication rate. Most patients experience significant relief from symptoms within a few days, and a return to normal activities is possible in a very short time.The procedure is performed under local anesthesia

, without the need for general sedation or hospitalization. The incision is minimal, the suturing is simple, and the scar is almost unnoticeable. In most cases the patient can return home within an hour, without the need for special care.What sets us apart:an experienced surgical team with numerous successfully performed procedures

• short waiting time
  an individual approach to each patient
• the possibility of additional diagnostics (EMNG) and
• physical therapy at the same location
• Whether the symptoms last for a few weeks or seriously disrupt daily life – at Polyclinic Priska Med we can quickly, accurately, and safely solve the problem

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