Carpal Tunnel Treatment

If you need carpal tunnel treatment — let the expert orthopedic hand and wrist surgeons at Hoag Orthopedic Institute help you return to your activities in comfort.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome, or median nerve compression, is an often painful condition of the hand and wrist that causes numbness, tingling, or weakness. It is caused by a pinched nerve or pressure on your median nerve, which runs from your shoulder all the way into your hand. Carpal tunnel can be caused by overuse or repetitive motions (like typing) and is more commonly seen in women than men by a ratio of 3:1. Swelling and a thickening of the surrounding tissues narrow the space the nerve must pass through. This narrowing restricts blood flow to the nerve area, causing numbness and radiating pain in the hand, wrist, and forearm. Over time, carpal tunnel can also affect your hand strength and ability to grasp things effectively with the affected hand. The pain and dysfunction can affect your ability to do daily activities.

Developing carpal tunnel syndrome becomes more likely as we age, peaking around 50 or 60 years of age. There is also a strong correlation with patients who have a higher body mass index (BMI). Other risk factors include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy. Carpal tunnel treatment ranges from conservative measures, including rest and wearing wrist splints, to surgical options for carpal tunnel relief.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel causes numbness and pain in the hand, wrist, and forearm. If you are experiencing some of the symptoms below, please contact one of the fellowship-trained, board-certified hand surgeons at Hoag Orthopedic Institute and schedule an appointment. Together, you will explore your carpal tunnel syndrome treatment options.

Numbness and tingling in the hand (median nerve sensory distribution)
Pain radiating in the hand, wrist, and up the arm
Symptoms worsen with increased activity in the hand and wrist (causing increased pressure to the median nerve)
Decreased fine motor skills in the hand and wrist (difficulty buttoning a shirt or opening a jar)
Weakness in your hands, difficulty holding, gripping, or pinching things
Pain worsens at night and during sleep
Cold intolerance, dryness, and unusual textures in the fingers (radial digits), signifying disruption of the sympathetic fibers carried by the median nerve

Why does carpal tunnel pain worsen during sleep?

Carpal tunnel relief is particularly critical at night, when the pain can impair your sleep. The symptoms worsen in sleep because:

During sleep, we often flex our wrists, which increases pressure on the median nerve.
Blood pressure decreases during sleep, causing poorer circulation to and from the nerve.
Due to the inactivity during sleep, we are no longer “pumping” synovial fluid (an essential “lubricant”) out of the wrist.

Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel

When you come to Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI) for a physical exam, your hand doctor will consider many factors before diagnosing carpal tunnel, including how your symptoms developed.

During your physical exam, your orthopedic hand specialist will use a variety of diagnostic tests to pinpoint what exactly is causing your hand and arm pain, including:

Manual sensory testing to evaluate changes in touch or feeling
Motor testing of the thumb’s abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle
Provocative tests — applying pressure to the median nerve to reproduce symptoms
Phalen’s test (holding the wrist in a flexed position to see if it triggers numbness or tingling)
Tinel’s test (tapping over the nerve to create a tingling sensation)
Compression test (holding pressure over the nerve to see if symptoms appear within 30 seconds)
Visual inspection for muscle loss at the base of the thumb (thenar atrophy, which may appear in advanced cases)
Electrodiagnostic studies, such as: Nerve conduction studies, which measure how well electrical signals travel through the median nervean d; Electromyogram (EMG), which records muscle activity and measures the severity of nerve dysfunction

Carpal Tunnel Treatment Options

Once you have a diagnosis, the options for carpal tunnel treatment that can deliver genuine relief begin with resting and properly supporting your wrist.

Non-Surgical Carpal Tunnel Treatment

The goal of any carpal tunnel syndrome treatment is to effectively decrease pressure on the median nerve and improve blood flow to it. The following non-surgical options are often highly effective at alleviating this pressure and improving circulation around the nerve.

Night-time wrist splint: Holds the wrist in a neutral position during sleep to prevent wrist flexion
Supportive compression gloves: Fingerless gloves for daytime use during typing or other hand activity (available over the counter; proper fit is essential)
Over-the-counter pain relievers: NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen reduce inflammation and pain
Vitamin B6: 100mg – 200mg daily to support nerve health (check with your doctor before use)
Carpal tunnel exercises: Nerve-gliding and stretching exercises to reduce compression and improve flexibility
Physical therapy carpal tunnel treatment: includes guided exercises, nerve gliding techniques, and ergonomic adjustments to reduce pressure on the median nerve
Ultrasound therapy: Uses sound waves to improve circulation and reduce swelling
Steroid injections: Reduce inflammation and swelling, and can relieve pressure and improve blood flow to the median nerve

It is essential to try these non-surgical treatments for carpal tunnel relief before considering surgery.

Surgical Carpal Tunnel Treatment Options

Continued carpal tunnel syndrome can result in permanent nerve damage. If conservative, non-surgical treatment for carpal tunnel does not relieve your hand and wrist pain, your orthopedic specialist may recommend carpal tunnel surgery. Surgical carpal tunnel syndrome treatments increase the space surrounding the median nerve by carefully cutting the ligament that forms the top of the carpal tunnel. This relieves pressure on the nerve and helps restore normal blood flow and function.

Surgical carpal tunnel treatment options include:

Carpal tunnel hydrodissection
Open release carpal tunnel surgery
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release
Mini-incision carpal tunnel surgery

Schedule a consultation today with an orthopedic hand surgeon to determine the best treatment for carpal tunnel for your specific case.

What To Expect from Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Carpal tunnel surgeries, such as open release, have a success rate of 95% or higher. The minimally invasive procedure is typically performed at an outpatient surgery center. You can expect:

30-minute surgery
Local or general anesthesia
Less than a one-inch incision
Some swelling, pain, and stiffness following the procedure
May gently use your hand immediately following surgery
Wearing a splint for one to two weeks
Physical therapy
Return to normal activities 6-12 weeks after surgery

Carpal Tunnel Surgery: When Is It Necessary?

Carpal tunnel treatment is crucial because prolonged compression of the median nerve can result in permanent nerve damage. If non-surgical treatment fails to provide carpal tunnel relief, then carpal tunnel surgery may be necessary.

Find a Hand & Wrist Doctor

Expert Carpal Tunnel Treatment at Hoag Orthopedic Institute

If you’re living with hand, wrist, or forearm pain, you deserve relief. From diagnosis through physical therapy and conservative care to surgery, Hoag Orthopedic Institute provides expert carpal tunnel treatment tailored to your specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

At your first visit, your orthopedic hand and wrist specialist will take time to understand your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle. Expect a detailed conversation about when your symptoms began, what movements or activities make them worse, and what treatments you’ve already tried.
Your hand doctor may perform a physical exam and order advanced imaging, such as X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI, to help pinpoint the source of your pain or dysfunction. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, your specialist will walk you through all treatment options, from non-surgical care to potential procedures.
Most importantly, you’ll receive clear answers to your questions and a personalized plan designed to support your goals and restore hand and wrist function.
Scheduling an appointment with a qualified hand doctor at Hoag Orthopedic Institute is quick and easy. You can request a consultation online or call our scheduling team directly at (949) 890-0464 to speak with a team member. Our team will help match you with the right hand specialist for your condition, preferences, and availability.
From your very first visit, our team prioritizes clear communication and personalized care. Your orthopedic hand doctor will take the time to fully understand your needs as well as answer all your questions, explain your condition, and walk you through your treatment options.
Whether you need an initial diagnosis or a second opinion, you’ll have access to board-certified orthopedic hand surgeons, advanced diagnostic tools, and personalized care planning.
At Hoag Orthopedic Institute, our expert hand doctors and orthopedic hand and wrist specialists provide a thorough evaluation to determine the least invasive treatment that meets your needs. Non-surgical care may include activity modification, bracing, corticosteroid injections, ultrasound, and targeted physical therapy — all designed to relieve pain and restore function.
When surgery is your best path forward, our fellowship-trained orthopedic hand surgeons perform advanced procedures ranging from minimally invasive endoscopic carpal tunnel release to complex tendon, ligament, and joint reconstructions. Many operations are performed with robotic assistance and arthroscopic tools to support faster healing and better long-term outcomes.
Whether your pain and dysfunction are caused by arthritis, nerve compression, or a traumatic injury, our orthopedic hand doctors tailor your treatment plan to get you back to doing what you love.
At Hoag Orthopedic Institute, your care is led by nationally recognized orthopedic hand doctors and fellowship-trained hand and wrist specialists who use the most advanced surgical and non-surgical techniques available today. From robotic-assisted procedures to minimally invasive surgery, our orthopedic hand and wrist surgeons focus on achieving the best possible outcomes with less pain and faster, more complete recovery.
Every patient benefits from personalized treatment planning, cutting-edge diagnostics, and a compassionate, collaborative care team. Whether you need a hand surgeon for complex trauma or a hand specialist treating chronic joint pain, Hoag Orthopedic Institute delivers exceptional, patient-centered care you can trust.
Our highly trained hand doctors and specialists provide expert treatment designed to meet your specific needs and goals.

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