• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

HealthMD

HealthMD

You are here: Home / Information / Arm Numbness, Tingling Hands and Fingers – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Arm Numbness, Tingling Hands and Fingers – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

By surekha

Tingling sensation in hands and fingers are not always a matter of concern, if you experience it occasionally. However if the symptoms of numbness in hands are persistent you need to consult your GP. It can be due to lack of blood flow to the nerves or any other serious condition. Too much of pressure exerted on the nerve can cause temporary numbness in the affected area. Numbness feeling can also be experienced in many forms like “pins and needles” or tingling sensation.

Numbness in arms and feet can be often temporary but for some people it can be episodic or persistent. Hand numbness can be with other symptoms like itching, burning pain and muscle weakness. Nerve damage is the main cause of numbness. Diagnosis can be made with blood tests, nerve conduction test and other imaging study. Treatment of numbness of hands depends on the cause and often the symptoms can be managed.

Arm Numbness

Symptoms :

Sudden numbness can be felt in hands and fingers. The affected person may not be able to lift/hold any object in his hand or he may lose the grip letting the objects fall. Some people may experience tingling sensation in fingers. Sleeping in the arms can cause numbness which may last for few minutes. However for some people numbness or tingling feeling can become a nuisance interrupting with daily life. The feeling of numbness after nerve injury is potentially serious. Severe nerve damage may have occurred in the affected hand or fingers.

Tingling Hands and Fingers

Causes :

Pressure exerted on the nerve can cause temporary numbness which gets resolved once the pressure is relieved. Nerve compression in the arm can cause temporary numbness. Occasional numbness can be due to vitamin deficiency. Prolonged diabetes can affect the nerves on the extremes of the body causing nerve damage. This is known as peripheral neuropathy which causes loss of sensation in hands and feet. In many cases numbness can become permanent and irreversible if the nerve damage is severe. Millions of Americans with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy leading to decreased mobility in hands.

Carpel tunnel syndrome, viral infection, nerve injuries, stress injuries and exposure to toxins can cause numbness in hands and fingers. In rare cases certain problems in the brain/spine can weaken the hands leading to numbness. Often numbness in hands is accompanied with loss of feeling in foot. Sudden stroke can cause such symptoms. Chronic alcohol consumption can cause numbness in hands and feet. Other factors that cause numbness in hands include amyloidosis, cervical spondylosis, brachial plexus injury and formation of ganglion cysts. Multiple sclerosis, Guillain Barre syndrome, Raynaud’s syndrome and Lyme disease can also cause tingling sensation or numbness.

Tests :

Your doctor would complete physical examination and would collect information about intensity of numbness. He may order for blood tests to check the levels of vitamins, ions and to monitor any abnormality in immune system. Lumbar puncture may be done to collect cerebrospinal fluid and presence of antibodies in it indicates peripheral neuropathy. EMG or nerve conduction study is done in many cases. To get clear picture about the extent of nerve damage CT/MRI scan would be done.

Tingling Hands and Fingers

Treatment :

Resolving the problem of numbness would be easy if accurate diagnosis is made. You can get back the sensation in your hands if peripheral nerve cells have not been damaged badly. The extent of complete recovery depends on the extent of nerve cells damage. For some people if peripheral neuropathy has badly damaged the nerve cells it can reduce the mobility of hands. If blood sugar is the actual cause of numbness suitable drugs are prescribed to bring sugar under control. Vitamin deficiency can be corrected by taking supplementary vitamins and by eating balanced diet. Prescription medications given for seizure and depression are effective in managing numbness in hands and legs.

Lifestyle Changes :

  • Eat healthy diet and do regular exercises.
  • If you are above 50 years check the blood sugar level once in 6 months. For people with diabetes regular checking of blood sugar becomes absolutely necessary.
  • Maintain a healthy weight since obesity can cause hypertension and diabetes.

Related posts:

  1. Tingling (Numbness) In The Face and Back Of The Head – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
  2. Tingling Fingers – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
  3. Numbness And Tingling In Face – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
  4. Numbness In Fingers – Causes, Symptoms, Pictures, Treatment
  5. Numb Lips – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
  6. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Home Remedies
  7. Tingling Sensation Of The Tongue (Parestheisa) – Causes, Treatment, Symptoms
  8. Type 1 Diabetes – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
  9. Tingling In Feet
  10. Tingling in Hands – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Filed Under: Information

Primary Sidebar

Learn More:

Also Read:

Peptic Ulcer

Cramping During Early Pregnancy

Pilonidal Abscess

Rat Lungworm Infection – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention

Jaw Pain on One Side

8th Week of Pregnancy : Symptoms, Ultrasound

Ecchymosis – Symptoms, Causes, Pictures, Treatment

Nasal Blockage (Nasal Congestion) In Infants and Children – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Apple Health Benefits – Know Why Apples Are Good For Health

Rabies

Neurofibromatosis – Type 1, Type 2, Pictures, Symptoms, Treatment

Broken Rib (Rib fracture) – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Cerebral Palsy

Polycythemia Vera

Shoulder Pain – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

Search and Learn More

www.healthmd.net

  • About Us
  • Dr. Latheef Kasala, Ph.D
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
SettingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT