Symptoms, assessment and treatment options when the median nerve is irritated at the wrist.
Symptoms and assessment
Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve as it passes through the wrist. It can cause tingling, numbness or pain, particularly in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and part of the ring finger. Symptoms are often more noticeable at night or during prolonged manual activities.
The assessment combines the person's history, symptom distribution, strength and clinical tests. In some cases, a doctor may request electrodiagnostic testing to clarify the condition and its severity.
Conservative treatment
Where appropriate, management may include adapting activities, wearing a night splint, nerve-gliding exercises and work on the wrist, hand and upper limb. Exercise selection and dosage depend on the individual's response: exercises that are too intense can temporarily increase symptoms.
Physiotherapy also helps maintain capacity and strength throughout rehabilitation, rather than focusing only on the point where tingling occurs.
When to seek further assessment
Progressive weakness, persistent loss of sensation, difficulty with fine gripping tasks or a lack of response to conservative treatment require medical advice. In more severe cases, surgical decompression may be indicated.
After surgery, rehabilitation is adapted to healing and to the work or everyday activities the person wishes to resume.
This content is for information only and does not replace an individual medical or physiotherapy assessment.