Carpal tunnel occurs when the median nerve in your wrist is pinched. This can cause pain that travels from your wrist, to your shoulder and neck, and into your spinal cord.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can literally be a pain in your neck.

The median nerve that’s pinched when you get carpal tunnel starts in your spinal cord and travels through the vertebrae at the base of your neck. This means that while pain can begin in your wrist, it can cause symptoms all the way up to your neck.

Read on to learn more about why carpal tunnel causes neck pain, other symptoms you should watch out for, and how you can relieve neck pain caused by carpal tunnel.

The median nerve is a long nerve that supplies sensation and movement to your hand on both sides. It travels through your arm and wrist into your hand, along with a bundle of blood vessels, through a small channel called the carpal tunnel.

Repetitive motions, like typing or even sleeping in a way that hurts your wrist, can inflame or injure the tissues surrounding your carpal tunnel. This inflammation can compress your median nerve and result in pain that travels all along the median nerve up into your neck.

A traumatic injury, such as from falling or being hit, to one side of your body that affects your hand, arm, or shoulder might compress or damage the median nerve in multiple places. This means you might feel pain anywhere along the nerve from your wrist to your neck.

Neck pain can also happen when you change the way you use your hand or arm to help reduce pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome.

Limiting use of your hand and arm can result in tension that causes neck pain and stiffness — and overcompensating by using your other hand can also cause wrist, shoulder, and neck pain on the other side of your body.

The most common symptom of carpal tunnel in the neck is aching pain in the wrist and neck, especially when using your hand to do an activity.

You’ll usually notice the same activities trigger the pain in your wrist and neck.

Other possible symptoms of carpal tunnel in the neck include:

  • feeling tingling or numbness in the neck and wrist
  • feeling pain in your neck when you grip objects
  • having trouble keeping your grip
  • swelling in your neck and wrist
  • swelling or pain in your fingers and neck

Some ways you can relieve carpal tunnel pain in the neck include:

If your symptoms are not going away or are worsening, consider speaking with a doctor. They can check to see if an underlying condition is causing your symptoms and suggest treatment options.

If you have a severe case, you may need carpal tunnel release surgery to relieve the compression on the median nerve within your wrist.

Other conditions that can be mistaken for carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • tendonitis, a condition caused by injury to the tendons in your hands or wrists from overuse
  • osteoarthitis, a type of arthritis caused by degeneration of tissue in your joints
  • rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune condition that happens when your immune system attacks your joint tissue
  • peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve pain that can cause pain in your arms and hands
  • multiple sclerosis (MS), a nerve condition that can cause pain, stiffness, and fatigue

A doctor can help identify what may be causing your neck pain.

Speak with a doctor if your neck pain becomes severe or lasts for a long time without relief, even when you’ve used home remedies or treatments.

You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • losing the ability to grip or hold objects
  • feeling weakness in your whole arm
  • suddenly losing feeling in your hand, arm, shoulder, or neck
  • losing the ability to move your neck or turn your head

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel in the neck?

Symptoms of carpal tunnel in the neck often include pain, swelling, numbness, and tingling.

Can carpal tunnel cause pain in other parts of the body?

Carpal tunnel can cause pain in other parts of the body, such as the forearm, shoulder, and neck.

What two conditions are often misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome?

The two most common conditions misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome include arthritis and tendonitis.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a compression of the median nerve in the wrist. It can lead to pain that travels all the way up to the shoulder and neck.

If your symptoms are not going away or are worsening, consider speaking with a doctor. They can put together a tailored treatment plan based on your condition, specific needs, and medical history.