Carpal tunnel symptoms can take you by surprise if you don’t know what to look for. Because carpal tunnel syndrome is a reversible condition it can help if you notice the symptoms before they get severe and get help for your condition early on. With proper exercise and support, you will most likely learn how to manage your carpal tunnel symptoms and regain both muscle strength and agility in your hands and wrists.

In order to properly diagnose this condition, you need to understand what carpal tunnel syndrome is. The carpal tunnel is an actual tunnel in your wrist. Inside this tunnel, an important nerve runs from your wrist to the tendons in your hand responsible for moving your fingers. As you can imagine, this nerve is very important and sensitive. If the tunnel is too small or the tunnel somehow swells or becomes irritated, that nerve may be crushed or squeezed. The result of this pressure on the nerve is called carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you suspect you are developing a carpal tunnel injury, look for the following symptoms:

Tingling in Your Fingers, Thumbs or Hands
The first symptom you’ll probably notice is a tingling sensation in your fingers, thumbs or hands. It may feel like a pins and needles sensation or it may feel like you’ve lost circulation for a bit to your hands. Oddly, this sensation usually affects all of your fingers but the pinky finger, which will probably be fine. You may feel the urge to shake your hands to try to restore proper circulation, but may feel frustrated when the sensation persists.

Numb Fingers, Thumbs or Hands
After the tingling sensation, you may notice parts of your hand or fingers numbing out. The numbness may come and go or it may be persistent.

Pain That Originates in Your Wrist and Travels Away From Your Wrist
You will next feel pain radiating from your wrist either up your arm or into your hands. Classic carpal tunnel symptoms are shooting pains on the palm side of your arm. These pains will worsen after you use your hands.

Weakened Hand Muscles
The final stage of carpal tunnel symptom is muscle weakness and loss of hand function. You may have difficulty using your hands the way you used to and may find yourself dropping items. Tasks such as typing may become very difficult.

If you notice any of these symptoms, you’ll want to see your doctor for suggestions on ergonomic work solutions and helpful exercises.