A general overview of carpal tunnel syndrome, at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand website:
http://www.assh.org/Template.cfm?Section=Carpal_Tunnel_Syndrome
The information on the web page is basically the same as the pamphlet that the ASSH offers for sale to its members, which are intended to give to patients in the office.
In the thread that jtr1962 linked to, I'd mentioned "nerve and tendon gliding exercises" as part of a program to treat carpal tunnel syndrome nonsurgically.
If you're interested in clinical studies evaluating their efficacy, here are a couple of references:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11807347
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9730093
And here are the exercises.
These are the nerve stretching exercises. Maintain each position for seven seconds. Go through the cycle of exercises five times. Go through the entire sequence for 3 to 5 sessions a day, perhaps worked into a rest break from typing or whatever activity aggravates symptoms.
A: forearm in neutral rotation ("karate chop" position), wrist neutral (straight), fingers and thumb flexed (clasped to make a loose fist)
B: forearm neutral, wrist neutral, fingers and thumb extended
C: wrist dorsiflexed (bent "back"), fingers and thumb same as B
D: wrist and fingers same as C, radially abduct thumb (stick it out away from the other fingers, so the fingers and thumb form an "L")
E: forearm supinated (palm facing up), fingers and thumb same as D
F: same as E, gently stretch thumb
And here are the tendon stretching exercises. Same number of repetitions and sets as the nerve glides. All exercises are done with the wrist in neutral (straight).
A: fingers extended
B: interphalangeal joints flexed (the two distal joints in each finger), metacarpophalangeal joints ("knuckles") extended
C: all finger joints flexed and thumb opposed over closed fist
D: IP joints extended, MCP joints flexed (opposite of B)
E: flex MCP joints and proximal interphalangeal joints, extend and radially abduct thumb (like making a "thumbs up" sign, but keep the joints at the tips of the fingers extended)
Some hand therapists recommend "contrast baths", which involve soaking the hand(s) in warm water for 4 minutes, then cold water for 1 minute, prior to performing the nerve/tendon gliding modalities. The heat probably helps to limber up before doing the exercises, but it can be a hassle to find a sink or tub of water several times a day in order to do the program "by the book".
The theory behind these exercises is to prevent the median nerve and flexor tendons from becoming restricted and "bound down" within the carpal tunnel.
Everybody intuitively understands that there is some excursion (to-and-fro motion) of the tendons when the muscles contract and the joints move. The median nerve glides too, with joint motion. Cadaveric studies have demonstrated median nerve excursion of about 20 mm when the wrist goes from maximal extension to flexion. In vivo observations during surgery have reported excursion of 20-30mm. If things get "stuck" within the carpal tunnel, you may develop traction on the nerve that can irritate or eventually damage it.
There are nine flexor tendons that are contained within the carpal tunnel: one flexor for the thumb, a deep system for the other 4 fingers that flexes the distal interphalangeal joints (the joint at the tip), and a superficial system that flexes the proximal interphalangeal joints (the joint "in the middle" of the finger).
The nerve, flexor pollicis longus tendon (thumb flexor), flexor digitorum profundus tendons (deep system), and flexor digitorum supericialis tendons (superficial system) are all supposed to glide independently. Each of the exercises focuses upon a different aspect of the nerve and tendon system, promoting independent excursion of each.
Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but some people prefer to know the principle behind the recommended treatment, and why just flapping the wrist and fingers from flexion to extension wouldn't be good enough.