There are a number of different treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome. Resting your wrist by not squeezing, or gripping, may help to relieve your symptoms. Losing weight (if you are overweight) will help too. If you have a medical condition, such as arthritis, then treating it may also help.

More specific treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Wrist splints, to keep your wrists in a position that maximises room in the carpal tunnel. They are usually worn at night, but some people need to wear them during the day as well. Your GP or physiotherapist may be able to provide you with wrist splints.
  
• Non-steroidal or anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen can be used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. However, children under the age of 16 should not take aspirin, unless their GP specifically advises them to do so. Those with asthma should not take ibubrofen.
  
• Corticosteroids will reduce inflammation and help to ease your symptoms. They are available on prescription, but are not always suitable for people with diabetes. They are taken orally (by mouth) or they are injected directly into the wrist. However, long-term steroid use is not recommended because side-effects can develop.
  
• Diuretic  tablets will help you to pass urine, and can reduce swelling caused by fluid retention in your body's tissues.
  
• Ultrasound  treatment can relieve symptoms in some people. How it works is not fully understood but it is thought to relieve inflammation. It is painless and requires a minimum of 20 treatments. However, this type of treatment may not be available in all areas.
  
• Wrist and finger exercises may help to relieve the pressure on the median nerve. However, there has not been enough research to tell whether such exercises are effective, and there is a risk that they could make the condition worse. You should ask you GP or physiotherapist for advice.
  
• Surgery may be required if the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome persist, or are severe. A simple operation, under local anaesthetic, is performed, which involves the ligament being cut to release the pressure on the median nerve. Surgery relieves pain in about nine out of 10 people who have it.

In cases of carpal tunnel syndrome where the symptoms are mild, no treatment may be an option. In one in three cases, the symptoms disappear within six months, without treatment. Where the condition develops during pregnancy, the symptoms usually disappear soon after the baby is born.