Making the Diagnosis
To diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor will perform a physical exam and may perform some tests. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and will examine your hands, arms, shoulders, and neck. Your doctor will check for tenderness, swelling, and sensation. If your whole hand feels numb and painful but you have feeling in the little finger, there may be a median nerve problem (the median nerve doesn't connect to the little finger).
A doctor might tap your wrist gently with a reflex hammer in an attempt to trigger the symptoms. Your doctor may also ask you to hold your arms forward and bring the backs of your hands together, or to bend your wrists with your fingers pointing downward. Tingling or numbness that is felt within one minute of assuming these positions is suggestive of carpal tunnel syndrome.
An electronic test can provide a definitive diagnosis of a problem with the median nerve. This is called a nerve conduction test and it helps your doctor decide how serious the damage to the median nerve may be.