To know if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, look for these common symptoms: numbness, tingling, burning, or pain primarily in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. These sensations often occur at night or when holding objects for a long time, such as using a phone or driving. Other signs include occasional shock-like sensations radiating to these fingers, weakness or clumsiness in the hand, difficulty with fine movements like buttoning clothes, and dropping things due to numbness or weakness. Pain or tingling may also travel up the forearm toward the shoulder. Symptoms usually start gradually and may come and go at first but tend to worsen over time.
There are simple self-tests that can suggest carpal tunnel syndrome, such as Phalen's maneuver (holding the backs of your hands together with fingers pointing down for about a minute—if this causes or worsens symptoms, it may indicate carpal tunnel) and Tinel's sign (tapping over the median nerve at the wrist to see if it triggers tingling or shock-like sensations in the fingers).
If these symptoms interfere with daily activities or sleep, or if they worsen, it is important to see a healthcare professional for diagnosis. Diagnosis may involve physical exams, symptom history, and specialized tests like nerve conduction studies or electromyography to confirm median nerve compression.
In summary, key signs to watch for are numbness, tingling, pain in the thumb and first three fingers (not the little finger), nighttime symptoms, hand weakness, and positive results on simple wrist tests. Persistent or worsening symptoms warrant medical evaluation.
