Jackie
The carpal tunnel is a group of bones, tendons and muscles that create a tunnel in your wrist. All the nerves to your hand pass through this tunnel. With a lot of repetitive motion activities and strain, the tunnel shrinks, due to calcification similar to scarring on the skin. When this happens, it tightens up around the nerves and then causes the numbness and pain you are feeling. The braces will help a bit and for a while, but they will not cure this. Surgery is the only answer - I have never heard of any alternatives to surgery. I too wore braces on my wrists at night so that I could sleep without pain. I had the surgery on both wrists in 1996 and I have never felt better. I would check with your local orthopaedic surgeon about surgery. I was fortunate to have one of the top 5 hand surgeons in the country perform my surgeries. I wish you luck.