Other people whose occupations have been linked to CTS include assembly line workers, athletes, drivers, hairstylists, musicians, restaurant servers, and writers. Factors that increase the risk of CTS includpling atrophy of the muscles in the thumb. Most commonly, it is experienced as burning, tingling, or numbness in the thumb and the first three fingers. In the beginning, symptoms are often inter-mittent, but they become persistent as the condition worsens. CTS can affect one or both hands.
Symptoms are often worse at night or in the morning, when circulation slows down.
Pain may spread to the forearm and, in severe cases, to the shoulder. Not all nerve entrapment problems are in the carpal tunnel area. This condition can be very painful and disabling.