Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options in Hobart and East Chicago

November 2026 · By OSNI Specialists

Waking up in the middle of the night with numb, tingling fingers is one of the most common complaints we hear from patients in Hobart and East Chicago — and it's often the first sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition develops when the median nerve, which runs through a narrow passage in the wrist called the carpal tunnel, becomes compressed. Left untreated, it can progress from occasional tingling to persistent numbness and hand weakness.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome often develops gradually rather than from a single injury. Repetitive hand and wrist motions, whether from typing, assembly line work, or hobbies like knitting, can irritate the tissue around the median nerve. Other contributing factors include wrist anatomy, prior wrist fractures, pregnancy-related swelling, and conditions like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, which increase the risk of nerve compression.

Recognizing the Symptoms

• Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger
• Symptoms that worsen at night or after gripping a phone, steering wheel, or tool
• A sensation of swelling in the fingers, even when no swelling is visible
• Weak grip strength or a tendency to drop small objects
• In advanced cases, visible thinning of the muscle at the base of the thumb

Because these symptoms can be mistaken for general wrist strain or a pinched nerve in the neck, an evaluation from a hand and wrist specialist is the best way to confirm the diagnosis.

How OSNI Diagnoses Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

For patients coming from Hobart and East Chicago, diagnosis at our Munster and St. John offices typically starts with a physical exam, including tests that reproduce the tingling by tapping or bending the wrist. When needed, our team can also order nerve conduction studies to measure how well signals travel through the median nerve and confirm the severity of the compression.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on how long symptoms have been present and how severe the nerve compression has become.

• Nonsurgical care: Wrist splinting, especially at night, along with activity modification and anti-inflammatory medication, often relieves mild to moderate symptoms.
• Steroid injections: A corticosteroid injection into the carpal tunnel can reduce inflammation and provide temporary to lasting relief for patients who aren't ready for surgery.
• Carpal tunnel release surgery: For persistent or advanced cases, our surgeons perform carpal tunnel release, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that relieves pressure on the median nerve by dividing the ligament that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel.

Getting Relief and Getting Back to Normal

Most patients notice significant improvement in numbness and tingling within weeks of starting treatment, and carpal tunnel release surgery has a high success rate for restoring hand function. The key is not waiting too long — the earlier nerve compression is treated, the better the long-term outcome.

If numbness, tingling, or hand weakness is affecting your sleep or daily activities, our hand and wrist specialists at OSNI's Munster and St. John offices are here to help patients from Hobart and East Chicago. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.