If you work with your hands, you're probably used to aches and pains. They're the tools of your trade, after all. So when should you worry about carpal tunnel? How do you know when your symptoms are serious enough to see a doctor? The first sign is numbness - particularly numbness that doesn't go away. Tingling, burning, and shooting pains in your wrists and fingers are other indicators of something serious. The biggest symptom is muscle weakness. If you've started dropping things, or your hands are shaking enough that they impair your ability to complete basic tasks, it's definitely time to see a doctor!