The MSK Specialist

That tingling in your fingers at two in the morning. The hand that feels oddly clumsy when you are trying to do up a button. The ache that travels from your wrist into your forearm after a long day at a keyboard. These are the kinds of symptoms people often dismiss for months before realising something is genuinely wrong. In many cases, the culprit is carpal tunnel syndrome — one of the most common nerve conditions seen in UK primary care. This article walks through the five key early warning signs to recognise, explains what is happening anatomically, and outlines the treatment options available — including when private assessment may be more appropriate than waiting for an NHS appointment. What Exactly Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Who Does It Affect? The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in the wrist, formed by the carpal bones on three sides and the transverse carpal ligament across the top. Running through this tight space are nine flexor tendons and the median nerve — the nerve ...