Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve where it passes through the wrist. It causes numbness and tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often worse at night. LOR Physical Therapy lists carpal tunnel therapy among its services, and our physical therapists in Laguna Niguel help with mild to moderate cases and recovery after surgery.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel
The nerve supplies the thumb side of the hand, so the symptoms stay there.
- Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers
- Hand numbness at night that wakes you up
- Wrist pain from typing or repetitive hand work
- A weak grip, and dropping things
Why it starts, and why night is worse
The tunnel is narrow, and anything that crowds it can squeeze the nerve.
Repetitive hand work
Keyboard, mouse, tools and other repeated gripping and bending of the wrist can irritate the tissue around the nerve.
Pregnancy, diabetes and arthritis
Swelling and some health conditions make carpal tunnel more likely.
Sleeping with the wrist bent
Many people sleep with the wrist curled, which presses on the nerve and wakes them with numb fingers.
What physical therapy can do before you consider surgery
For mild to moderate carpal tunnel, physical therapy aims to calm the nerve: gentle nerve and tendon glides, changes to how you use your hands and set up your workstation, and exercises for the forearm and grip. We tell you honestly if your symptoms need a doctor’s opinion about surgery.
After a carpal tunnel release, we help you regain grip strength and movement, following your surgeon’s instructions. Read more on post-surgical rehab.
When the tingling starts in the neck
A pinched nerve in the neck can cause tingling in the hand that looks like carpal tunnel. We check the neck too. Read about neck pain. Pain in the wrist itself, without numbness, is on hand and wrist pain.
Questions about carpal tunnel
Why do I get tingling hands at night?
Tingling hands at night are a classic sign of carpal tunnel, because many people sleep with the wrist bent, which presses on the nerve. Neck problems and other nerves can cause similar tingling, which is why we check.
Can I treat carpal tunnel without surgery?
For mild to moderate cases, treating carpal tunnel without surgery is often possible: calming the nerve, changing how you use your hands and strengthening the forearm. If you do not improve, your doctor can talk to you about surgery.
What does carpal tunnel release recovery involve?
After a carpal tunnel release, your surgeon sets the first weeks. Therapy then helps with scar sensitivity, wrist movement and grip strength.
Related care
Carpal tunnel care in Laguna Niguel, California
LOR Physical Therapy treats carpal tunnel at our Laguna Niguel clinic, 31271 Niguel Road, Suite J, for patients across South Orange County.
Whether your insurance plan needs a referral differs from plan to plan: call the number on your insurance card to check, or call us before your first visit and we will help you find out.
Meet the people who treat you on our team page.