Carpal tunnel syndrome
Pins and needles and numbness in the hand from a compressed nerve at the wrist.
By Andrew Ellis, AHPRA registered physiotherapist · Reviewed July 2026
What it is
Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist. It causes tingling, numbness and sometimes weakness in the thumb side of the hand, and it is often worse at night.
Signs and symptoms
Everyone is different, but these are common with carpal tunnel syndrome. You may have some and not others.
How physiotherapy helps
Many milder cases improve without surgery. We assess to confirm the pattern, use hands on therapy and nerve glide exercises, advise on splinting and the activities that aggravate it, and coordinate with your GP if it is severe or not settling.
- Wrist and nerve assessment
- Nerve glide exercises
- Splinting and activity advice
- GP coordination if needed
How we treat it
The right mix depends on your assessment. These are the services we most often draw on for this.
Exercise and rehabilitation
Tailored programs to rebuild mobility, strength and confidence in the movements that matter to you.
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Soft tissue release
Skilled hands on work through muscles, tendons and ligaments to ease tension and restore flexibility.
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Chronic pain physiotherapy
A broader, paced approach for pain that has stayed past the normal healing time.
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Trigger point dry needling
Fine needles into trigger points to release muscle tension and ease referred pain. A core focus at PACT.
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What you pay, with or without cover
Every appointment is a full, unhurried session with the time to work through complex, persistent problems. The fee is $165 for an initial visit and $142 for a follow up, and if you have Medicare, private health extras or an accepted claim, here is what you pay.
Paying privately
No referral or paperwork needed. Every visit is a full, unhurried session with the time it needs.
With a Medicare plan
A GP Chronic Disease Management referral rebates $61.80 on every visit, up to 5 a year.
With private health extras
Claim on the spot through HICAPS. The gap depends on your fund and level of cover. See all health funds
Workers comp & CTP
Accepted workers compensation and CTP claims are billed straight to your insurer, and we handle the paperwork.
Every bar is drawn to the same scale, from $0 to the standard fee. Private health gaps vary with your fund and your level of extras cover.
Other problems we help with
Pain rarely sits in one neat box. These are commonly linked, and we treat them all.
Good to know before you book
Do I need surgery for carpal tunnel?
How much will it cost?
Do I need a referral?
Can it be managed by telehealth?
Sources and further reading
Written and reviewed by Andrew Ellis, AHPRA registered physiotherapist. Last reviewed July 2026.
This page is general information about carpal tunnel syndrome, not a diagnosis or a substitute for an assessment. If you are concerned about your symptoms, book an appointment or see your GP.
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Same day appointments often available at our Miranda clinic, or by telehealth across Australia.