Urgent symptoms

Topics to discuss

• Call 911 for sudden arm weakness with facial droop or trouble speaking
• A major wrist injury with deformity or a cold, pale hand needs emergency assessment
• Seek prompt assessment for increasing grip weakness or persistent numbness

Choosing the next step

Use the warning signs above to decide when emergency help is needed. This page cannot check your symptoms or tell you that it is safe to wait. If symptoms are severe, sudden, or getting worse quickly, seek urgent medical help. A routine appointment request is not an emergency service, and a message may not be read right away.

For a life-threatening emergency, call 911. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint, confused, or unable to travel safely. If possible, have someone stay with you while help arrives. Bring your medicine list and allergy information if they are easy to reach, but do not delay emergency care to collect records.

Sources

• Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: 2024 guideline — American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome — MedlinePlus (NIH)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical overview — MedlinePlus (NIH)