Not much has been written specifically about evaluating sleep in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome but it is clearly a big problem.  It seems like about 7 out of 10 people seek treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome specifically because pain or numbness in their hands is keeping them awake at night.  A study by Patel, et al. published in Sleep Disorders on February 17, 2014, found an average of 2-1/2 hours of sleep loss per person and 80% of the patients reported poor quality of sleep.  Another study by Lehtinen in Acta Neurologist Scandinavia in 1996 also confirmed decreased sleep quality and commented specifically on increased daytime sleepiness, i.e. 35% of the patients, compared with a control group showing only 9% of them were having any problem with sleepiness during the day.  Once the patients had their carpal tunnel surgery the quality of sleep improved and the disturbance was ended.   

Obviously people will feel better and be much more productive at work and play and will enjoy what they are doing more if they are wide awake because they are sleeping longer.  I think that carpal tunnel syndrome is generally overlooked as a major cause of sleep disturbance.  Many people don’t actually perceive that it is their hands awakening them even though they may be.  Endoscopic carpal tunnel release causes minimal discomfort and immediately eliminates the nighttime symptoms patients experience from carpal tunnel syndrome.  There is a minimal risk of recurrence and very low risk overall.