Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common problem that affects many people around the world, yet few fully understand what it is or how it can be treated. If you’ve ever felt a tingling sensation in your fingers, especially at night, or struggled with pain in your wrist that makes it hard to hold things, you might be familiar with some of its symptoms. But what exactly causes this condition, and what are the best ways to treat it? This article will explain everything you need to know about carpal tunnel syndrome based on the latest medical research, using simple language and clear explanations.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Let’s start with the basics. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in your wrist formed by bones and a tough band of tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. Inside this tunnel runs the median nerve, which sends signals from your arm to your hand, allowing you to feel sensations in your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of your ring finger. It also controls some small muscles in the hand that help with fine movements. Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when this median nerve gets squeezed or pressed inside the tunnel, like a garden hose being kinked (Osiak et al., 2022).
Why does this squeezing happen? According to a 2022 review, the most common reason is swelling or inflammation in the tissues around the nerve. This can come from many things: doing the same hand movements over and over (like typing or using tools), being pregnant, having diabetes, being overweight, or even having a wrist fracture. Sometimes, there’s no clear cause, but the result is the same: the median nerve gets compressed, and that leads to symptoms (Osiak et al., 2022).
How Do You Know If You Have It?
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually start slowly. Most people first notice a tingling or numb feeling in their thumb, index finger, and middle finger. This often happens at night because when we sleep, we tend to bend our wrists, which presses on the tunnel. Many people say they wake up needing to shake their hands to make the feeling go away (Osiak et al., 2022).
As time goes on, the tingling might turn into pain that travels up the arm. Some people find it hard to grip things—like a cup or a pen—and might drop objects more often. In severe cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb can get weaker and smaller because the nerve isn’t working properly.
If you go to a doctor, they’ll probably check for these symptoms first. They might do simple tests: one is tapping lightly over the wrist (called the Tinel test) to see if it causes tingling. Another is bending the wrist forward for a minute or two (the Phalen test) to see if that brings on symptoms. These tests aren’t perfect, but they give clues.
To be sure, doctors often use a test called nerve conduction study. This measures how fast the median nerve sends signals. If the signals are slow, that’s a sign the nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel. Another test, called electromyography, checks the muscles to see if they’re being damaged by the compressed nerve.
What Are the Treatment Options?
Treating carpal tunnel syndrome depends on how bad the symptoms are. For mild cases, simple changes might be enough. The 2022 review suggests things like wearing a wrist splint at night to keep the wrist straight, which takes pressure off the nerve. Avoiding activities that make the symptoms worse—like typing for long periods without a break—can also help. Sometimes, doctors recommend exercises to stretch and strengthen the wrist, but it’s important not to overdo it (Osiak et al., 2022).
If those don’t work, there are other options. Some people try anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling, but these don’t work for everyone and can have side effects if used for a long time. Steroid injections into the wrist can reduce inflammation quickly, but the effect usually only lasts a few months. They’re helpful for short-term relief, especially for pregnant women or people who can’t have surgery (Osiak et al., 2022).
When symptoms are more severe, or if other treatments don’t work, surgery might be needed. The most common surgery is called carpal tunnel release. During this procedure, a doctor cuts the transverse carpal ligament to make more space in the tunnel. This relieves the pressure on the median nerve. Most people get better after surgery, but recovery can take weeks or months, and some might still have symptoms afterward (Osiak et al., 2022).
The Role of Laser Therapy: A Newer Approach
In recent years, doctors have been looking at laser therapy as another way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. This type of therapy uses light to reduce pain and inflammation. It’s called photobiomodulation therapy, and there are two main types: low-intensity and high-intensity laser therapy.
A 2020 study compared these two types. Researchers looked at 60 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Half received low-intensity laser therapy, and half received high-intensity. Both groups had treatments three times a week for four weeks. The researchers checked pain levels using a scale where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain. They also did nerve tests to see if the nerve was working better (Ezzati et al., 2020).
What did they find? Both groups had less pain after treatment, but the high-intensity group did better. Their pain scores dropped more—from around 7 to about 2—while the low-intensity group went from around 7 to about 3.5. The high-intensity group also had better results in the nerve tests, with faster signal speeds. The study suggested that higher doses of laser therapy might work better for reducing pain and improving nerve function (Ezzati et al., 2020).
Another study from 2013 focused only on low-intensity laser therapy. It looked at 40 patients who had the therapy three times a week for three weeks. The results showed that their pain levels went down, and their ability to use their hands improved. The nerve tests also showed some improvement, though not as much as the high-intensity group in the 2020 study. This suggests that low-intensity laser can help, but maybe not as much as higher doses (Rayegani et al., 2013).
But what about after surgery? A 2023 study tested laser therapy on patients who had carpal tunnel release surgery. The researchers split 60 patients into two groups: one group had the usual post-surgery care, and the other had that plus laser therapy twice a week for three weeks. The laser group reported less pain and better hand function after four weeks. They also had better results in nerve tests. This suggests that laser therapy can help people recover faster after surgery (Chuah et al., 2023).
A 2025 review looked at all the studies on high-intensity laser therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome. It combined results from 12 different studies with over 800 patients. The review found that high-intensity laser therapy significantly reduced pain and improved nerve function compared to no treatment or fake laser therapy. It also worked better than some other conservative treatments, like splinting alone (de la Barra Ortiz et al., 2025).
So, how does laser therapy work? The light from the laser is thought to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow to the area, which helps the nerve heal. It’s a non-invasive treatment, meaning it doesn’t require cutting, and most people don’t find it painful—just a slight warm feeling (Ezzati et al., 2020; Rayegani et al., 2013).
Who Should Try Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy seems to work best for people with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have severe symptoms—like very weak muscles or bad nerve damage—surgery might still be the best option. But for many people, especially those who can’t or don’t want surgery, laser therapy could be a good choice (de la Barra Ortiz et al., 2025; Osiak et al., 2022).
It’s also important to note that laser therapy isn’t a one-time fix. Most studies used treatments two or three times a week for several weeks. The 2020 study used 12 total treatments, and the 2013 study used 9. So it requires some commitment, but many patients find it worth it for the pain relief (Ezzati et al., 2020; Rayegani et al., 2013).
Comparing Treatments: What’s Best for You?
With so many options, how do you decide? Let’s break it down:
• Splints and rest: Good for very mild symptoms. They’re cheap and easy to try first, but might not work for everyone.
• Steroid injections: Can give quick relief, but it’s temporary—usually a few months. Good for short-term help, like during pregnancy.
• Laser therapy: Works well for reducing pain and improving nerve function, especially high-intensity. It’s non-invasive and has few side effects.
• Surgery: Most effective for severe cases, but it’s more invasive and requires recovery time. Laser therapy might even help with recovery after surgery (Chuah et al., 2023).
As with any treatment, it’s important to talk to a doctor. They can help you figure out which option is best based on your symptoms, lifestyle, and health.
Conclusion
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that can cause a lot of discomfort, but there are many ways to treat it. From simple splints to surgery, and newer options like laser therapy, there’s something for everyone. The key is to get diagnosed early and start treatment before symptoms get worse.
Laser therapy, especially high-intensity, has shown promise in many studies. It reduces pain, improves nerve function, and can even help after surgery. As research continues—like the 2025 review that confirmed its effectiveness—it’s likely to become an even more popular treatment option.
If you think you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, don’t wait. Talk to a doctor, get tested, and find the treatment that works for you. With the right care, most people can get back to their daily activities without pain.
References:
1. Osiak K, Elnazir P, Walocha JA, Pasternak A. Carpal tunnel syndrome: state-of-the-art review. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2022;81(4):851-862. doi: 10.5603/FM.a2021.0121. Epub 2021 Nov 16. PMID: 34783004.
2. Ezzati K, Laakso EL, Saberi A, Yousefzadeh Chabok S, Nasiri E, Bakhshayesh Eghbali B. A comparative study of the dose-dependent effects of low level and high intensity photobiomodulation (laser) therapy on pain and electrophysiological parameters in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2020 Dec;56(6):733-740. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.19.05835-0. Epub 2019 Nov 18. PMID: 31742366.
3. Chuah JP, Khoo SS, Chung TY, Jayaletchumi G. Photobiomodulation Therapy in Carpal Tunnel Release: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2023 Aug;41(8):402-407. doi: 10.1089/photob.2023.0018. Epub 2023 Jul 28. PMID: 37506348.
4. de la Barra Ortiz HA, Avila MA, Parizotto NA, Liebano RE. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Physiotherapy. 2025 Mar 5;128:101780. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2025.101780. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40121869.
5. Rayegani SM, Bahrami MH, Eliaspour D, Raeissadat SA, Shafi Tabar Samakoosh M, Sedihgipour L, Kargozar E. The effects of low intensity laser on clinical and electrophysiological parameters of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Lasers Med Sci. 2013 Fall;4(4):182-9. PMID: 25606328; PMCID: PMC4282005.
