Try nightime cotton gloves over a lather of castor oil… its like a pack.
Hello CHIN_C hits the nail on the head here. The most effective treatment for me was splinting where I wore the splints overnight and slept with my hands above my head. It was annoying and difficult to adapt to, but it helped. I eventually had surgery on one wrist and was not happy with the results personally. Also, as far as whether it's carpal tunnel or arthritis, there's the small possibility that it could be both. My carpal tunnel started early and was idiopathic. There was no reason for the damage to have occurred in the first place, just things that irritated it. Turned out I have seronegative RA which can cause idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. Just food for thought.
Some home remedies: https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-carpal-tunnel
Your clinical presentation sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome. This manifests as pain and paresthesias in the distribution of the median nerve, which includes the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms usually occur while holding an object or gripping a steering wheel for extended periods of time. They also tend to occur at night and may wake you during the night, or you may notice the numbness when you wake up in the morning.
Avoid activities that make symptoms worse. Take more frequent breaks to rest your hands, or alternate the hands you use for stressful repetitive motions. Apply cold packs to reduce swelling. Other treatment options include wrist splinting, medications (NSAIDs or corticosteroids), and surgery.