Carpal tunnel syndrome is a diagnosis used to describe compression of the median nerve as it passes through a semi-circular ring (tunnel) of small bones (carpals) on the palmer side of the wrist.

Symptoms include numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers, pain especially at night, and dropping objects.

Contributing causes may include poor wrist posture, forceful and repetitive grasping, neck injury, pregnancy, diabetes, thyroid gland imbalance, wrist fractures, and arthritis.