I know this is not an answer to the question you're asking, but I hope it's okay if I chime in. I had carpal tunnel surgery in 2001 in both hands (about 6 weeks apart). My thumbs had just started to ache at the base, and my hands frequently got tingly and/or numb at night. I didn't have the intense pain that many people associate with carpal tunnel syndrome. I was told at the time that the longer I put off having surgery, the more nerve damage I was likely to sustain. I don't know if that is your situation, but it's something to ask the doctor. There are also exercises that really help with carpal tunnel symptoms. I might have tried those before surgery if I had known about them, but I have never regretted having the surgery.