Video: Does your hand go numb at night?

This one-minute video explains carpal tunnel syndrome: why the median nerve gets pinched inside the narrow tunnel at the base of your palm, the three warning signs worth acting on, and how treatment moves from a night splint, ergonomic change, hand therapy and a corticosteroid injection to endoscopic carpal tunnel release through a single micro incision when those stop working.

Full transcript

Spoken by Sarah, an AI-generated presenter.

Does your hand go numb at night? Hi, I'm Sarah, Dr. Loredo's AI education assistant.

Numbness that wakes you up is often carpal tunnel syndrome. The median nerve is pinched in a narrow tunnel at your wrist.

Three warning signs. Numbness or tingling in your thumb, index, and middle finger.

Symptoms that wake you at night, or shaking your hand for relief. And a weakening grip: dropping things, or trouble buttoning a shirt.

Treatment starts conservatively: a night splint, ergonomic changes, hand therapy, or a corticosteroid injection.

When those stop working, Dr. Loredo performs endoscopic carpal tunnel release through a single micro incision.

Call (972) 939-4974. Start your forms at loredohand.com. New patients are seen within days.

Questions patients ask

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition in which the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage at the base of the palm: the wrist bones form three sides and the transverse carpal ligament forms the roof, and nine flexor tendons share the space with the nerve. Compression causes numbness, tingling and weakness in the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger.

What are the warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle and thumb-side half of the ring finger. Symptoms that wake you at night or appear first thing in the morning, and shaking the hand to relieve them, which is called the flick sign. Weakness of grip and difficulty with fine pinch, such as buttoning a shirt, picking up coins or turning a key, and dropping objects. In advanced cases there is visible thinning of the thenar muscles at the base of the thumb.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?

Treatment starts conservatively with a night wrist splint held in a neutral position, activity modification and ergonomic correction, anti-inflammatory medication, targeted hand therapy including nerve and tendon gliding, and a corticosteroid injection into the carpal tunnel. When symptoms return quickly or injection stops working, surgical release divides the transverse carpal ligament. Dr. Loredo's preferred approach is endoscopic carpal tunnel release through a single micro incision at the wrist with no skin sutures; open release is used for revision surgery, certain anatomic variations, or patient preference.

Who treats carpal tunnel syndrome near Southlake and Dallas-Fort Worth?

Dr. Pedro Loredo, MD, board-certified in General Surgery (American Board of Surgery) and Hand Surgery (American Board of Plastic Surgery), at Loredo Hand Care Institute, 431 E State Hwy 114, Suite 380, Southlake, TX 76092. The practice serves Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller, Hurst, Bedford, Euless, North Richland Hills, Dallas and Fort Worth. New patients are seen within days. Call (972) 939-4974. Se habla español.

Read the full carpal tunnel syndrome condition page · Endoscopic carpal tunnel release · Early signs of carpal tunnel

En español: ¿Se le duerme la mano por la noche?

El adormecimiento u hormigueo que lo despierta por la noche con frecuencia es el síndrome del túnel carpiano: el nervio mediano queda comprimido dentro de un túnel estrecho en la muñeca. Vigile tres señales: adormecimiento en el pulgar, el índice y el dedo medio; síntomas que lo despiertan de noche o que lo hacen sacudir la mano para aliviarlos; y una mano que pierde fuerza, se le caen las cosas o le cuesta abotonarse la camisa. El tratamiento empieza de forma conservadora, con una férula nocturna, cambios ergonómicos, terapia de mano y con frecuencia una inyección de corticoesteroide. Cuando eso deja de funcionar, el Dr. Pedro Loredo, MD realiza la liberación endoscópica del túnel carpiano por una microincisión.

Sarah es una presentadora generada por inteligencia artificial. Esta información es educación general para el paciente, no consejo médico. Solo una evaluación en persona puede decirle la causa de sus síntomas.