Diseases & Conditions

Do I have carpal tunnel syndrome?

Ask the doctor

By , Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Cropped photo showing the hands of a woman holding one wrist with her othe hand, above a laptop.I wake up every night with numbness and tingling in my hands. My sister says I must have carpal tunnel syndrome. Could she be right?

Most people with the syndrome have only mild symptoms and can benefit from wearing a carpal tunnel splint — available in drugstores and online — while sleeping or doing activities that lead to symptoms. See your doctor if that approach doesn't bring relief. Other remedies include a cortisone injection to reduce inflammation or minor surgery, which relieves pressure on the median nerve by "releasing" the carpal tunnel ligament.

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About the Author

photo of Toni Golen, MD

Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor

Dr. Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. Dr. Golen completed her residency training at George Washington University Medical Center in 1995, and is an associate professor at Harvard Medical … See Full Bio
View all posts by Toni Golen, MD

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