I agree with Joe. I'm having nerve problems in my entire arm and it all comes from one's neck/spine. Fortunately I'm working with a good physical therapist and slowly getting better (I've had intense pain -- makes me get up at night for several hours as I can't sleep and can't "do" much during the day) since July 9. You might want to look into that; see if cold compresses on the neck, massage, electrical/sonic stimulation etc. help or even if accupuncture does (my little electrical stimulation machine they gave me works well at accupuncture points, especially the web between thumb and forefinger and the dimple on the outside of the little finger, halfway to the wrist). My nerves are firing randomly all over my arm, shoulder, hand, etc. and there's obvious swelling in my neck so it would be hard to find a single reason/place where there was a problem that could be operated on but I had a friend who had the carpal tunnel/hand surgery and it was unsuccessful, twice! Once one has the surgery though, it is hard to try "something else"? Kind of like bariatric surgery, you can't go back to diet and exercise and "normal" routes afterwards.