Carpal tunnel syndrome: numb, tingling hands and what helps
Why a squeezed nerve at the wrist causes tingling and numbness, why it is often worse at night, the NHS self-help advice, and when to see a GP.
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve is squeezed as it passes through a narrow channel at the wrist. It causes pain, tingling and numbness in the hand and fingers, typically the thumb, index and middle fingers. It is common, and often comes on gradually and comes and goes.
When to get urgent help
Go to A&E or call 999 if you have any of these. They can be signs of a fracture, infection, blood clot or other emergency.
- A limb that looks deformed, or a joint that you cannot move or put weight on after an injury
- A cold, pale or numb foot or hand after injury
- A hot, red, swollen joint with a high temperature
- A painful, swollen, warm calf, with or without breathlessness or chest pain
What it can feel like
- Tingling, pins and needles or numbness in the thumb and fingers
- Symptoms that are often worse at night and may wake you
- An ache in the fingers, hand or sometimes the forearm
- A weaker grip, or trouble with fiddly tasks, and sometimes a weak thumb
Common contributors
- Being overweight or pregnant
- Repetitive wrist bending or hard gripping at work or in hobbies, including using vibrating tools
- Conditions such as arthritis or diabetes
- A parent, brother or sister with carpal tunnel syndrome, or a previous wrist injury
General self-care
These are general comfort measures many people find reasonable. They are not a treatment plan, and what suits one person may not suit another.
- Wear a wrist splint at night to keep the wrist straight. The NHS says it can take up to six weeks to feel better
- Cut down or stop activities that involve frequent wrist bending or hard gripping
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen may ease pain short term, but they do not treat the cause
- Take regular breaks from repetitive tasks and check your keyboard and mouse set-up
- Hand exercises are often suggested, but the NHS says the evidence that they help is limited
When to see your GP
See your GP promptly, or call NHS 111, if you have any of the following:
- Pain after a significant injury, fall or twist
- Pain that is constant, severe or getting worse, or wakes you at night
- Unexplained weight loss, fever or feeling generally unwell with limb pain
Consider seeing your GP if:
- Your symptoms are getting worse or are not going away
- Home treatment is not working
- You notice weakness of the thumb or the muscle at its base shrinking
Where an osteopath fits in
There is limited good-quality research showing that hands-on treatment changes the course of carpal tunnel syndrome, so I do not claim that osteopathy treats it.
What an osteopath can usefully do is examine the wrist, hand, neck and arm to help work out whether your symptoms are from carpal tunnel or elsewhere, advise on activity, work set-up and splinting, and refer you to your GP for tests or onward treatment if needed. The NHS says some cases improve on their own within a few months, particularly those related to pregnancy, and that steroid injections or surgery are options if a splint does not help. If the assessment suggests you need your GP, a physiotherapist or a specialist instead, I will tell you.
If you would like your symptoms assessed, you are welcome to book an appointment. Osteopathic care is not right for everyone, and if something needs medical attention first, I will tell you.
Common questions
Why are my hands numb at night?
The NHS says carpal tunnel symptoms are usually worse at night. Wearing a splint at night to keep the wrist straight takes pressure off the nerve and can help, although it can take up to six weeks to feel better.
Does carpal tunnel go away on its own?
The NHS says it sometimes improves on its own within a few months, particularly when related to pregnancy. If symptoms get worse or do not settle, see your GP, as injections or surgery may be options.
Free 5-minute exercise sheet
A simple, printable sheet of gentle exercises and stretches, about five minutes a day, based on NHS physiotherapy leaflets. It is general information, not a personal treatment plan, and it is not suitable if you have any of the urgent signs listed above.
Sources and further reading
Links open in a new tab. Sources were checked in October 2026.
Related guides
This page is general information to help you understand common aches and pains. It is not medical advice and cannot diagnose your problem. If you are worried about your symptoms, please speak to your GP or call NHS 111.