A. SPLINTS!! (or surgery...), but lets back up a bit.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME, first described in 1913, is caused by the compression of the MEDIAN NERVE as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist, and goes into the hand. Common causes include:
The classic description of symptoms is of numbness and tingling in the 3 and a 1/2 fingers innervated by the median nerve.
Often the pain is worse at night, as it seems to be in your case, and this can be relieved by shaking or moving of the hand and wrist.
As for treatments, it sometimes depends on the cause. If it's due to pregnancy, delivery of a happy, healthy baby (when the time has come) is the first, and usually only step on the road to complete recovery. If it's from overuse, addressing ways to reduce that would be wise. ( Many new wrist-resting gadgets for receptionists have recently popped up.)
What we usually recommend as a first-line treatment, and especially at night, are wrist splints. Your family doc should be able to tell you where to go to have these made for you (often by physiotherapists or occupational therapists.)
If your symptoms persist or are particularly severe to begin with, you should discuss the option of decompressive surgery with your family doc. It's a fairly benign procedure and highly effective.
There is talk in the literature about other treatment modalities (vitamin supplements, steroid injections), but I don't believe any of these have ever been proven effective.
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