Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The first symptoms usually appear at night. Symptoms range from a burning, tingling numbness in the fingers (especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers) to difficulty in gripping or making a fist. Many patients with CTS are unable to differentiate hot from cold by touch, and they experience an apparent loss of strength in their fingers. They might appear clumsy because they have trouble performing simple tasks such as tying their shoes or picking up small objects. In advanced cases, the thenar muscle at the base of the thumb atrophies, and strength is lost.