I have been getting numbness, tingling, and sometimes pain in my fingers, especially the fingers of the left hand. My doctor sent me to a rehab and sports medicine specialist who gave me an electrical conductivity test -- not very pleasant -- which indicated that I was showing early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. At the same time, the tests ruled out any pinched cervical nerves. An x-ray, however, revealed some osteoathritis in my neck and shoulders which had been limiting my range of motion, particularly my ability to tilt my head to either side. I have no problem moving my head forward or back and I can turn to the left or right, but I cannot tilt my head left or right more than a few degrees.
The first course of treatment for both the carpal tunnel syndrome and the osteoarthritis has been physical therapy. To treat the carpal tunnel, I have to dip my hands up to the wrists in hot liquid parafin to loosen them up, and then the therapist manipulates the hands to open up the tunnels. This relieves the pressure on the nerves that pass through the wrists. So far this therapy has led to some improvement, but the symptoms have not entirely disappeared. The physical therapist and the doctor believe that's the best outcome for the time being. If the condition worsens despite treatment, the next step would be surgery on the wrists. I hope it never comes to that.