The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage surrounded by bones and ligaments in the palm of the hand.

When the median nerve is compressed, symptoms can include numbness, tingling, and weakness or muscle damage in the hand, fingers, and arm, to the extent that they can be disabling for the sufferer that prevents them from carrying out their daily activities.

Proper treatment usually relieves tingling and numbness and restores the function of the wrist and hand, and in more advanced cases, the solution is always surgical, freeing the nerve trapped in the carpal tunnel.