When I was pregnant 33 yrs ago, I woke up one night with my hands on fire.... It was severe and very dramatic. The doctor sent me right away to a orthopedic specialist (this was long before computers and repetitive strain etc) and she did an EMG right there and told me I had only 20% nerve function left.

She said the hormones of pregnancy do this, so after delivery, it did go down. I had one steroid shot in my right hand only. She had me use carpal tunnel splints all the time for it. Now I only use them at night. (I sprained my right hand on vacation so now I am using a right hand one still at home only at night). The splints keep the hand from bending inwards and compressing more at the wrist. I also rub in the mag lotion at both wrists at night to improve circulation there.

There is a new more comfortable Futuro one available now that I bought a month ago on Amazon. It is made from more comfortable materials.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
These are also at CVS...but for alot more $$...$37.00 +

You will have to probably get tested to see how bad it is. But that severe on fire feeling is very serious I think. When my hands are only acting up I never get that terrible feeling anymore. Only when I was pregnant. Now I just get numbness and some tingling to warn me to start wearing the night brace again.