I view surgery as a last resort. In the late 90's I had carpal tunnel that was nearly intolerable. Through workstation adjustment and a few years of wearing braces I've graduated to only occasional numbness and no braces at all.
1) Wear the
right braces. ESPECIALLY at night. I like these:
Form Fit Wrist . Just because your doc gave you a brace to use doesn't mean it's the one that will work for you. They're cheap; try a few different ones out.
2) Get your workstation set up properly. For me, this meant investing in a Kinesis keyboard ($300) and a Wacom pen tablet ($100). Use them both
properly.
3) Take breaks and do hand/wrist stretches often.
Good luck! I feel (well, felt) your pain.