Numbness of the fingers is a problem that is unfortunately familiar to many. Usually it begins to cause alarm only when the discomfort becomes almost constant and may be accompanied by pain. Most often, we first notice numbness when waking up in the morning or at night, and at first we do not attach any importance to it, because the cause may be an uncomfortable posture.
If numbness in your fingers becomes regular, then you should hurry to see a doctor, because any treatment is more successful in the early stages of the disease, and this symptom is a cause for alarm.
With various problems, we may feel numbness in different parts of the hand. Numbness of the little finger is quite common, but discomfort in the thumb area is less common.
The causes of numbness in the hands or fingers can be different.
Most often this condition is associated with osteochondrosis, but this is not the only cause.
The most harmless reason that causes numbness in the hands is muscle strain . If your head lies uncomfortably on the pillow while sleeping, or if your posture is incorrect when working at a desk or computer, then severe tension in the neck muscles occurs. Muscle spasm compresses nearby nerve fibers.
Unpleasant sensations can occur in different fingers of the upper extremities, from the little finger to the big, depending on which nerve and in which area is pinched.
Pinched nerves also occur with constant tension in the hands, when a person works with his hands for a long time. Today, this is most often associated with working at a computer, because actively using the keyboard is an unnatural activity for our hands. Monotonous work impairs blood circulation, swelling develops, and tendons or joints may become inflamed.
As a result, the nerves become pinched. The most commonly affected nerve is the median nerve, which passes through the carpal tunnel. At first, numbness in the hands is felt only in the morning, and later pain occurs.
If you do not pay attention to the symptoms, the condition will worsen, and your hands will hurt day and night. This disease is called carpal tunnel syndrome; it can manifest itself on only one side; numbness in the right hand is more common, because it usually bears more load.
Inflammatory processes in the joints lead to approximately the same consequences. More often this is arthrosis. It affects one joint first, but can spread to others.
If, for example, you notice numbness in your left hand and do not take action for a long time, then after a while the symmetrical joint on the right may become inflamed.
The causes of numbness will also be a pinched nerve.
Numbness in the hands may be due to Raynaud's disease. In this case, microcirculation is disrupted and discomfort spreads to both hands. Already at the initial stage of the disease, the fingers freeze, turn pale and hurt in the cold. The nerves responsible for the functioning of the fingers and hands are affected by polyneuropathy. In turn, the causes of this disease can also be different.
Similar processes, accompanied by compression of nerves, occur in some endocrine diseases, during nervous overload, for example, when in a state of chronic stress or after severe emotional shock.
Injuries can damage nerve tissue and lead to irreversible consequences, in which case numbness in the hands will remain forever.
An alarming symptom may be one-sided sensations.
This may be due to narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels due to various diseases. An atherosclerotic plaque or blood clot in the blood vessels means a threat of ischemic stroke.
The fact is that numbness in the fingers of one hand occurs when the vertebral artery is compressed or blocked on one side. The vertebral arteries supply blood to the brain, and narrowing of their lumen, and even more so, blocking can be catastrophic for the brain.
Thus, even slight numbness in the fingers of the left hand (as well as the right) can be a symptom warning of an impending stroke, and therefore requires attention.
The most common cause of numbness in the limbs is osteochondrosis. This disease is so widespread that it is rare that an adult does not experience its symptoms. With significant damage to the spine by the pathological process, numbness of the arms and legs is possible, but this degree of the disease is not very common.
Numbness of the fingers causes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in this disease lead to damage to the intervertebral discs and the vertebrae themselves.
For this reason, compression of the nerve endings occurs and the functions of the vertebral arteries are disrupted, in particular, they become less blood-permeable. These pathological processes cause numbness of the upper extremities.
Damage to the intervertebral discs leads to the formation of protrusions and hernias, which put pressure on the nerve roots and on the vessels passing nearby. Degeneration of the vertebral bodies can be manifested by the formation of osteophytes (bone growths), which also compress the nerves.
Thus, numbness in the fingers can be a sign of cervical osteochondrosis, and you can even determine which vertebrae are affected, because compression at certain levels is reflected by numbness in the corresponding areas of our body.
For example, numbness in the little and ring fingers indicates damage to the 8th cervical vertebra. If the numbness extends to the ring and middle fingers, then the 7th vertebra is affected. With such sensations at the level of the thumb, index and middle fingers, the cause is usually a problem in the 6th vertebra.
It is very important to make a correct diagnosis. The most alarming signal is numbness in the fingers of the left hand. First you need to exclude pre-infarction and pre-stroke conditions.
Numbness in the fingers of the right hand can also be a signal of an impending stroke. Severe cerebrovascular accidents can be prevented if this pathology is diagnosed in time. Next, you need to find out the condition of the spine for osteochondrosis. Its treatment depends on the stage, so the examination must be thorough, you need to do all the procedures that the doctor prescribes.
Further diagnosis of numbness in the upper extremities is associated with the identification of inflammatory processes, compression or damage to the nerve endings responsible for the functioning of the hand and fingers.
If you wake up in the morning or at night and feel numbness in your fingers, then do not ignore this manifestation. Perhaps something needs to be done, because this could be a signal from the body about trouble.
First of all, of course, we think that the reasons are simple: an uncomfortable pillow, a sleeping position. Most often in this case we feel numbness in the little finger; if you stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time, the unpleasant sensations can spread to the entire hand, but, as a rule, this only happens on one side.
To exclude this option and not bother the doctor in vain, try changing the bed; it may be worth purchasing an orthopedic pillow so that at night when you change position you will not find yourself in an uncomfortable position again.
If this is the problem, then there will literally be a positive result immediately, and nothing else needs to be done.
If simple measures do not help, you need to consult a doctor to get adequate treatment.
Pinched nerve endings in the hand are treated by a neurologist using medications, vitamins and physiotherapy. If the cause is excessive physical exertion or incorrect body position during work, then these causes need to be eliminated and a short course of treatment restored to restore balance in the body and the functioning of nerve endings.
Specific treatment is prescribed for inflammatory diseases or osteochondrosis.
It is always much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it. Disturbances in the functioning of blood vessels and nerves can cause numbness in the upper extremities. To preserve blood vessels, you need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, that is, do not abuse alcohol, stop smoking, limit salty, spicy foods.
The diet must include meat, fish, seafood, a lot of vegetables and fruits, and herbs.
If you work with your hands, then be sure to take breaks after 45-60 minutes for small exercises so that normal blood flow in the extremities has time to be restored. If you suspect more serious problems, contact a specialist immediately.
Many people are familiar with this unpleasant sensation, but nevertheless perceive it quite calmly. Of course, it is clear that this phenomenon is related to blood circulation, but is such a condition really dangerous? In some cases, this discomfort can be explained by the fact that the hands were simply too cold, and the person did not pay attention, as he was very busy with something.
But, in fact, everything is much more complicated. Such signs may indicate the presence of a rather serious disease. If you experience numbness in your little fingers, it is possible that your cardiovascular system is facing certain problems. When numbness is observed in the thumbs, then in this case it can be assumed that the respiratory system is suffering. As you can see, the consequences can be quite serious. And if you cannot guess what exactly caused the numbness in your fingers, then be sure to consult your doctor.
Numbness of the fingers can occur in any age category, but adults most often experience this. Basically, such numbness occurs in the morning, when a person has just woken up and is still lying in bed. Many people treat this feeling with disdain, without due attention, believing that the hand was “rested”, having fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position. But it should be noted that this is not the case at all. After all, after some time, such a condition occurs more and more often, and in order for the fingers to regain normal sensation, it takes an increasingly longer time. It is impossible to determine the cause on your own, and only a specialist can help with this.
In this case, the symptom of numbness in the fingers may indicate the presence of not one, but many different diseases. Perhaps this is a nervous disorder and psychomatic disorders. But more serious reasons may well emerge. First of all, this is impaired blood circulation. It is worth paying special attention if numbness is present only in the fingers of one hand. This may mean that blood circulation is impaired in the area of the brain and cervical spine.
The consequence of impaired blood circulation in the brain is a stroke.
Patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels in the blood often suffer from numbness in their fingers, which indicates the presence of atherosclerosis in the patient. To determine exactly what the existing pathology is and to exclude certain variants, the doctor prescribes a brain tomography.
If the endocrine system is not in order, there are injuries, inflammatory processes in the joints, as well as osteochondrosis of the spine, especially the cervical spine (See “Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis”), then numbness of the hands and fingers is also often observed. Another reason can be called polyneuropathy. In this case, the nerve endings located in the hands and fingers are affected.
The life of a modern person dictates its own conditions, and doctors often explain numbness in the hands and fingers with a disease such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Those who suffer from it are those who are forced to perform certain work in the same position. Moreover, the hands are in a tense state. The most common example is computer activity. In addition to numbness, pain and burning occurs in the fingers.
The cause of the disease is pinching of the median nerve, which is located in the carpal tunnel. In the case of prolonged and monotonous work, the tendons become inflamed and swelling occurs. At the very beginning, symptoms occur in the morning. But some people ignore the problem, hoping that everything will go away on its own. Thus, numbness and pain become permanent and last the whole day without changing for the better.
Without timely treatment, there are cases when the thumb muscle simply dies. A person is deprived of the ability to bend this finger, and of course there is no question of clenching his palm tightly into a fist. There are sad statistics that show that quite a lot of people for this reason were forced to change their occupation and engage in another professional activity. Interestingly, women are much more susceptible to this disease. But basically, the age category is from forty to sixty-five years.
This reason is widely known. The disease is characterized by symptoms when the process of numbness covers both hands. Fingers experience a similar condition, as there is a violation of blood microcirculation. In cool weather, a person feels that his fingers are literally freezing, they begin to ache, and become very pale. These signs distinguish Raynaud's disease, even when it is just beginning.
Before starting active treatment, it is necessary to establish the cause of this phenomenon and determine the diagnosis of the existing disease. But, of course, you cannot do without the help of a qualified specialist.
A specialist neurologist will perform the tests necessary in your case, and special tests will also be prescribed. The research uses appropriate modern medical equipment. With the correct diagnosis, treatment can be very effective. If you self-medicate on the advice of people you know who “had it too,” then you can completely lose the mobility of your fingers and the entire hand.
Treatment is prescribed according to the cause of the numbness. For example, osteochondrosis is characterized by numbness in the fingers of only one hand. In this situation, specialists prescribe a course of treatment consisting of ointments and tablets to eliminate the inflammatory process and swelling. If the condition is severe and advanced, surgery may be required.
With polyneuropathy, which is caused by diabetes, signs of numbness can bother a person even if there is a slight increase in blood sugar. Provoking factors include hypovitaminosis, anemia, as well as certain types of professional activities. The doctor prescribes medication, as well as a number of physical procedures. The patient must perform specific weight-bearing exercises. In some cases, walking at a fast pace, aerobics, gymnastic exercises, and jogging has a healing effect.
A complex consisting of several exercises, which is done in the morning, helps to get rid of numbness. All movements can be performed without getting out of bed. They consist of repeatedly squeezing and unclenching your fingers, holding your hands in a “lock,” and so on. As a rule, more precise recommendations in this case can be obtained from the attending physician's office.
Traditional methods of getting rid of numbness in the fingers can be used as an additional remedy, but they must be approved by the doctor who is conducting the main treatment of your disease.
Traditional medicine recipes consist mainly of food. For example, it is believed that warm pumpkin porridge applied to the hand in the form of a compress, wrapped in a warm cloth, helps improve the condition. The procedure is applied until there are clear signs of improvement.
The following recipe is also offered - a pickled cucumber and three pods of red hot pepper are crushed and poured with two glasses of vodka. After seven days, strain the infusion and use it as a rubbing agent for the hands and fingers.
An ordinary woolen thread is tied around the wrist and worn constantly. It is believed to also have a positive effect.
This method was borrowed from the monks of Tibet. Fingers press with considerable force on the bottom of a container filled with hot water; you can take a small bowl. Sensitivity returns quite quickly, not a trace remains of the numbness.
The use of contrast baths also has a good effect on fingers in a state of numbness. Nearby you should place containers with the most tolerable hot water and cold water. Both hands are alternately lowered into hot and cold water, the interval is one minute. Every day you can do two to three procedures.
Black pepper has worked well for numb hands. It’s best not to take it ground, but to grind it yourself, this way you will retain the maximum of active biological components. Next, you will need one liter of vegetable (any) oil. Add 100 grams of pepper to it and cook for half an hour over low heat. The cooled mixture is rubbed into the skin of the hands up to several times a day. Numbness and pain become less frequent and then disappear altogether.
In medicine, low-intensity infrared laser irradiation is sometimes used, which stimulates peripheral circulation. Such a course is prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the characteristics of the disease, usually from eight to ten sessions.
In conclusion, we can say that there are many reasons why numbness occurs.
And no less ways to eliminate unwanted signs and restore health. Take care of your hands, and at the first doubt or warning sign, consult a doctor! Only a properly designed course of treatment can guarantee complete recovery!
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