Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms in my hand. intense tingling or pain and loss of grip strength. do i risk further or permanent damage if ignored?

Yes: Prolonged carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to atrophy ( shrinking) of the muscles of your thumb with subsequent hand weakness. This can be permanent. You should be evaluated by a hand surgeon.

Carpal tunnel: Yes you could risk further damage. Seek advice from an orthopedic surgeon and get a nerve test done(emg). In the meantime you can wear a wrist support (from the drugstore) at night and try an anti-inflammatory until you get an appointment.

Yes: Carpal tunnel syndrome represents compression of the median nerve at the wrist. With continued nerve compression, the changes can become permanent, even if surgery is undertaken at a later date. An electrodiagnostic study (emg/ncs study) can be helpful in determining whether surgery is the right answer for you. There is a risk of permanent and irreversible nerve damage with severe carpal tunnel.

Untreated, cts: Is typically a progressive problem getting worse over time. Unless treated what is not known is the rate and to what degree that worsening will occur. However if one truly has cts and grip strength loss due to loss of thenar muscle mass and constant sensory symptoms then it is unlikey that you will get better without surgical treatment, in fact you may only stop the progression.Short answer yes.