Do you ever feel like your hands are numb? That tingling, “pins and needles” feeling which annoying and comes-and-goes without warning?
Many people experience numbness in their hands, for a variety of reasons. Hand numbness can be caused by damage, irritation, or compression of a nerve or a branch of nerve in your arm and wrist.
In this blog post, we will explore a few common causes of numbness in hands and what to do if you experience this symptom.
What does numbness feel like?
Numbness is often described as a abnormal sensation of tingling, “pins and needles” feeling, or sometimes occurs as loss of feeling or sensation in an area of your body part. They often fell on your fingers, hands, and arms.
In some cases, you may need to seek emergency medical attention, especially if numbness in hands which accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- Sudden weakness or numbness, especially if it’s only one side of body
- Paralysis
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Difficulty specking or swallowing
- Vision changes
- Drooping face
- Sudden severe headache
- Rash
- Loss of bladder/ bowel control
What are the most causes of numbness in the hands?
Brain and nervous system conditions
- Cervical spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis develops from the wear and tear of cartilage and bones. It is is degenerative disease that can cause osteoarthritis, herniated disks, bone spurs and narrowing of the spinal canal within that affects your neck and can cause pain, weakness, stiffness, numbness, and other symptoms.
Seek medical attention if you noticed a sudden onset of numbness or weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
2. Slipped cervical disc
Discs are the soft cushions that separate the vertebrae of your spine. A disc begins to herniate when its jelly-like nucleus pushes against its outer ring due to wear and tear or a sudden injury.
This pressure against the outer ring may cause the ring to bulge and puts pressure and irritates on the spinal cord and nearby nerve roots. When a nerve root is irritated and inflamed, there may be pain, numbness and weakness on one or both of your hands or legs.
3. Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency that can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death due to decreased blood supply or blood clot in region of brain.
Symptoms of a stroke typically come suddenly and may include numbness in one hand, paralysis, weakness, difficulty speaking or swallowing and vision changes. Prompt treatment may reduce your risk for long-term brain damage.
Trauma or Overuse Injuries
- Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
TOS is a condition involving compression of nerves, arteries, and veins in the lower neck and upper chest area which causes pain in arm, shoulder and neck. This condition may cause aching pain, numbness, swelling, weakness, or heaviness in the arms, hand and fingers.
Treatment options including physiotherapy management to strengthen the chest muscles, postural correction and relieve compression over chest area. In some severe cases, TOS decompression surgery is necessary to remove the structure that are compression the nerve or artery.
2. Carpal tunnel syndrome
The median nerve is responsible for feeling in the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist due to narrowing of nerve passageway. Repetitive activities using hands like typing can cause the tissues around the median nerve to swell up and put pressure on median nerve. This produces numbness and tingling, weakness and pain in the hands.
Treatment options including splinting, physiotherapy, and surgery. If condition persists, it can cause permanent nerve damage. Sometimes surgery is necessary to relieve pressure.
3. Cubital tunnel syndrome
The ulnar nerve runs from the neck all the way into the pinky finger. Cubital tunnel syndrome is caused by compression or overstretch of ulnar nerve at the inner aspect of elbow.
This can happen after prolonged positions put pressure on elbow or due to swelling from repetitive movement.
Symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome include numbness and tingling in the hands, weakness and pain.
Other conditions
- Diabetes
High level of sugar in blood for long period of time may lead to nerve damage, diabetic neuropathy which causes numbness in arms, hands, legs and feet.
Other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:
- burning
- pins-and-needles feeling
- weakness
- pain
- loss of balance
2. Vitamin or mineral deficiency
You need vitamin B12 to keep your nerves healthy. Severe B12 deficiency can cause numbness in your hands and feet on both sides of your body.
Potassium and magnesium deficiency may also cause numbness.
The most common symptom of a vitamin B12 deficiency is fatigue. Other symptoms may include:
- weakness
- trouble walking and balancing
- difficulty thinking clearly
3. Certain medicines
Nerve damage (neuropathy) can be a side effect of several different medications, especially those that treat cancer. It can affect both your hands and feet.
Other symptoms of drug-induced nerve damage include:
- decreased sensation
- tingling
- atypical feelings in hands
- weakness
Conclusion
In this blog, we have discussed a few possible reasons that causing your hands having numbness. We also briefly explained the symptoms of each condition. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms that mentioned above, we recommend that you to seek a doctor, neurologist, physiotherapists or certificated healthcare specialist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plans.
Prepared by:
Lai Jia Shin
Your Physio Sri Petaling