In a person with carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve -- which passes from the forearm into the hand, and is responsible for controlling some of your hand muscles and allowing you to feel sensations with your hand -- becomes damaged and unable to function normally. This causes pain, numbness, and weakness in the fingers and thumb -- which are often most noticeable at night. Carpal tunnel surgery, also called carpal tunnel release, is a procedure used to improve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The procedure involves cutting the tissue around the wrist to help relieve pressure on the median nerve. After undergoing carpal tunnel surgery, most people have successful results that include substantial pain relief and prevention of further damage to the hand or wrist. While there are several non-surgical methods that may help relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, a carpal tunnel release is the most effective solution.