The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome start gradually but can worsen over time. You may first notice numbness or tingling in most of the fingers and hand. This tingling sensation may feel like a sort of electric shock or spasm. It is generally the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers that are affected. Your pinky will likely remain unaffected.   In addition to the numb and tingling sensation, you may also experience cramping or weakness in your hand. This can result in you dropping things or losing your grip on certain objects as the muscles in your hand shrink and weaken.   The sensation typically starts in the fingers and wrist, but can travel upwards to your forearm. You may notice the sensation more when using your hand to move or hold something. For example, holding a steering wheel, cell phone, or book. It may also be severe enough to wake you from your sleep.   To combat the discomfort, people often attempt to “shake out” their hands as a way to relieve the symptoms. This may work for a while, but the numbness and tingling may become a constant factor over a course of time.