Do the first few fingers of your hands feel numb, especially when you are at rest? Do you feel a burning sensation on your inside wrists? Or what feels like an electrical shock in your hands? Do you drop objects that you are trying to grasp? These may be signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The carpal tunnel or canal is a narrow passage in the wrist through which tendons, nerves and vessels pass to reach the hand. Overexerting the wrist and fingers, using vibrating power tools or doing repetitive actions involving the wrists can lead to inflammation in the canal, compressing the nerve and causing the symptoms described above. Your doctor can confirm a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome following an examination and/or tests. Surgery may be recommended to release the compressed nerve. Other types of treatment, such as physiotherapy or a night orthosis, may be considered as an alternative or as a follow-up to surgery to help promote healing.