Numbness in the left hand can be a symptom of a variety of diseases. Therefore, in order to get rid of this symptom, it is first necessary to identify the specific cause of its occurrence.
Doctors at the CELT clinic follow the global medical rule that states that the disease itself should be treated, and not just remove its negative effects. Based on this, the main role in this case is given to a thorough diagnosis.
If this symptom bothers you constantly, then such signs of trouble in the body cannot be ignored. They can be both quite “innocent” and the first indicators of quite serious diseases of the nervous or cardiovascular system.
Numbness in the left arm can sometimes be a symptom of angina. Most often in such cases, along with unpleasant sensations in the chest, numbness occurs in the hand, forearm and shoulder. If numbness appears during exercise and goes away immediately after it stops, then it is very likely that it is angina. Also typical for angina is a clear positive effect from taking nitroglycerin.
The symptom of numbness of the left hand is one of the companions of an acute cardiovascular catastrophe - myocardial infarction. In some cases, when the clinical manifestations of a heart attack are very mild, and the heart attack itself practically does not cause pain, a numb left arm may be the only signal about a disturbance in the functioning of the heart. Unlike angina, numbness and pain during a heart attack are very intense, occur at rest, and are not relieved by nitroglycerin.
Atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries supplying the left arm can cause decreased strength and numbness in the left arm. This condition is characterized by increased symptoms when working with a raised arm.
This is another acute vascular catastrophe that can manifest itself as numbness of the limb. If these sensations occur in the left hand, then the lesion develops in the right hemisphere. The diagnosis of this disease is also confirmed by a combination of numbness in the left hand and dysfunction of the left leg, as well as in the presence of visual impairment, problems with speech, etc.
Quite often, the reason why the left arm goes numb can be osteochondrosis of the thoracic or cervical spine. In such a situation, numbness usually affects the fingers first. In addition, sensory disturbances are accompanied by weakness in the hand, decreased grip strength of the hand, and sometimes pain syndrome spreading along the outer side of the forearm and shoulder.
In principle, any condition that causes damage, compression or dysfunction of the nerves and blood vessels of the arm can lead to numbness.
Therefore, the reason for this may be:
The appearance of this symptom cannot be ignored, especially if it is constantly present. An examination by cardiologists, neurologists and vertebrologists at the CELT clinic will allow you to reliably and quickly determine the true cause of numbness in the left hand, make the correct diagnosis and begin adequate treatment in a timely manner.
Paresthesia is a disturbance of sensitivity in the form of numbness (pins and needles, tingling, decreased sensitivity). Limb paresthesia is numbness in the arms and/or legs.
The most common cause is prolonged pressure on the main nerve. This usually happens due to an uncomfortable posture, for example, when working or sleeping. You just have to straighten your hand and massage it a little, and all the unpleasant sensations go away. But most of all, people are afraid when their left hand goes numb often or for a long time. The causes of numbness in the left hand can be neurological complications due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
As a result of the degenerative-dystrophic process, hooked bone processes (osteophytes) are formed from the spine, which press on the nerve emanating from the vertebrae. This can also occur with vertebral instability. Then numbness occurs when the vertebrae are displaced when tilting or turning the head and, accordingly, the nerve is pinched.
The cause may also be overstrain or overload of the muscles of the cervical-collar region. This is a professional problem for pianists and people who work at the computer. Due to the fact that a person is in the wrong or the same position for a long time, one or another group of muscles becomes overstrained, causing them to spasm and, as a result, the nerve passing nearby is pinched. Computer scientists often experience numbness in their left hand. Sometimes this situation occurs when a person falls asleep in an incorrect and uncomfortable position. Poor circulation in the cervical spine and/or brain can also cause numbness.
This situation is the most dangerous, as it is the first sign of a developing stroke . Usually the condition is accompanied by high blood pressure and/or excessively high cholesterol levels, which means there is a risk of developing atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic plaques. In some cases, various psycho-emotional disorders or stress can also lead to numbness of the limbs.
It doesn’t matter whether your left arm or right arm or even your legs are numb, you should definitely consult a doctor to make a correct diagnosis. Even if you prefer to be treated with unconventional methods, you must at least know what to treat.
Treatment depends on the cause of the numbness. If numbness is caused by displacement of the vertebrae, the formation of osteophytes, or compression of the nerve by a tense muscle, then physiotherapy, manual therapy, massage, acupuncture, immobilization of the spine, and drugs that regulate metabolism in osteochondral tissue can be prescribed. If blood circulation is impaired, medications are prescribed to normalize it. It should also be understood that if the left arm goes numb, then this has nothing to do with heart disease, but still requires mandatory examination and treatment.
I am 20 years old. The problem started a couple of years ago during training, my left arm went numb, at first only during exercise, later for no reason. Numbness in the left arm can sometimes be a symptom of angina. My left hand has been going numb for about six months now. Sometimes my right hand goes numb, but mostly it happens with the left. It’s going numb from the shoulder to the tips of my fingers, that is, completely. All this continues...
If these sensations arise in the left hand, then the lesion develops in the right hemisphere. Quite often, the reason why the left arm goes numb can be osteochondrosis of the thoracic or cervical spine.
If you intend to determine why your head is numb, then first of all you will be prescribed studies aimed at determining the root cause. When the back of the head becomes numb after lying for a long time, for example, during sleep, this is most likely caused by problems in the spine.
Treatment for numbness depends on the causes of its development. Symmetrical numbness of areas of the right and left arms (hands, fingers, etc.) in combination with impaired movement in the limbs (paralysis) occurs with polyneuropathy. It’s been 2 years since the body began to go numb, it started from the feet, then higher, then the arms, tongue, the unpleasant sensations do not stop. For the first time, it all started on the left side, at the beginning the face began to go numb, the skin of the face from the eyebrows to the tongue and chin, then it all went to the hands, and ended on the little finger.
How long can the recovery process last? (numbness does not go away for three weeks) Is it possible to do massage and therapeutic exercises at this time or will it harm? My husband completed a month-long course of treatment, but the numbness in his arm remains. We consulted with a vascular surgeon and neurologist, no pathologies were found,... The symptom of numbness of the left arm is one of the companions of an acute cardiovascular catastrophe - myocardial infarction.
This is another acute vascular catastrophe that can manifest itself as numbness of the limb. The diagnosis of this disease is also confirmed by a combination of numbness in the left hand and dysfunction of the left leg, as well as in the presence of visual impairment, problems with speech, etc. In principle, any condition that causes damage, compression or dysfunction of the nerves and blood vessels of the arm can lead to numbness.
The nature of sensitivity disorders: damage to the roots in the cervical spine is usually symmetrical (on both the left and right sides). Thanks to these techniques, you can relieve both numbness and pain.
Numbness in this case is an alarm bell and a reason to contact an endocrinologist and take a fasting blood sugar test. Either half the body, part of the face, or one hand. At the same time, unpleasant sensations do not arise acutely, but gradually: they appear and then disappear, increasing over time. If you have registered previously, then “log in” (login form in the upper right part of the site).
Unpleasant tingling sensations are familiar to almost everyone; slight numbness of the head or face can be felt in the morning after sleep or during nervous tension. It is not always a symptom of some disease. If you are in an uncomfortable position for a long time or do not change position, blood circulation to the head is disrupted and the result is numbness and mild tingling.
However, hypoesthesia of the head and neck does not always go away without any consequences; it can also be a symptom of a disease. Based solely on the main and accompanying symptoms, it is difficult to determine what causes numbness of the scalp; the reasons can only be found out after examination and tests. If one of these arteries is pinched, the brain is not properly supplied with blood, which causes hypoesthesia. In addition, nervous stress can be caused by an internal cause.
Not in all cases, hypoesthesia indicates some kind of serious illness, this is especially true for numbness of the face; only in one case out of five is it a symptom of the disease. Due to facial numbness, a person may not be able to taste food, but with an attack this symptom also goes away.
Usually, numbness on one side of the head is not dangerous and indicates that, for some external reason, blood circulation in the brain has been disrupted. At risk are older people over 60 years of age, in whom this may be a symptom of a more serious brain disease, or indicate a circulatory disorder.
In some cases, numbness in an area of the body may indicate a serious medical condition, such as a stroke (death of an area of the brain) or a tumor. During the cold season, prolonged exposure to the cold can cause numbness in the hands or feet, but this sensation goes away soon after the limbs are warmed up. If the numbness is not caused by any disease, then it goes away on its own within a few minutes after changing body position or light massage.
Numbness can be a symptom of many different diseases, and in order to find the cause of numbness in your case, pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. A brain tumor can compress surrounding areas of brain tissue and cause disruption of their functioning with the appearance of numbness in parts of the body, loss of coordination, and movements in the limbs. Numbness of certain parts of the body, as a rule, occurs with diseases of the nerves or blood vessels in this area.
Read more about this in the article All about herpes zoster and its treatment. If numbness of the tongue is accompanied by pain or a tingling sensation in the tongue, dry mouth is noted, and the appearance of the tongue is not changed, then glossalgia is a possible cause. Numbness of the tongue combined with pain in the root of the tongue, throat and ear occurs with neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve. Read more about this in the article All about neuralgia and its treatment.
If, for example, the left side of the head or neck goes numb, it is most likely that this is caused by a simple disruption of the blood supply to the brain and will pass very soon. If the left side of the head goes numb, it is usually harmless, but if the left half of the body is numb, this may indicate a stroke, then you need to urgently call an ambulance.
The phenomenon when the left arm and leg go numb at the same time is probably familiar to many. A big mistake is made by those who consider this symptom harmless and do not pay attention to it. After all, the cause of the disorder is a disease of the nervous system. So, why do limbs go numb?
The reason why the left arm and leg go numb may be a disruption in the blood supply to the area of the brain in the right hemisphere, which is responsible for the sensitivity of certain areas of the body. Acute cerebrovascular accident or stroke is the most dangerous and common cause of numbness in an arm or leg. As a rule, loss of sensation in an arm or leg is accompanied by motor disturbances in half of the body, changes in vision, and speech impairment.
You need to be especially attentive to your health if you are at risk for developing cerebrovascular diseases. Doctors identify the following factors that can lead to a stroke:
The appearance of signs of cerebrovascular accident requires immediate initiation of treatment within the first 12 hours from the onset of the disease.
The development of numbness in the arm and leg on the left may be a manifestation of a neoplasm in the right half of the brain. In this case, symptoms appear gradually: the left arm and leg become numb, and other forms of neurological deficit occur. Signs of the disease appear and then disappear again. To determine the cause of this condition, you must immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will suggest undergoing computer or magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound of the brain vessels and prescribe special treatment.
As a result of a fall or blow, a traumatic brain injury may occur with the development of hemorrhage or hematoma between the membranes of the brain. Sometimes numbness of the limbs on one side does not occur immediately after the injury, but after some time. If there was a head injury, after which there was a disturbance in sensitivity, or the pupil on one side is wider than on the other, then it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance, they will take the patient to a specialized department of the hospital. It is important not to delay medical attention, as some types of head injuries require neurosurgery.
Numbness of the arm and leg on the left side in young patients is often associated with an attack of migraine headaches. The diagnosis is established by recurring unilateral pain in half of the head or face. Migraine is often accompanied by hypoesthesia of half the body and visual disturbances. Other family members may also experience unpleasant symptoms. To clarify the diagnosis, it is still worth conducting a series of neurological studies and ruling out more serious illnesses.
Often young girls experience numbness in their left arm and leg at the same time due to anxiety, stress, or a hysterical reaction. As a rule, an unpleasant symptom develops in emotionally labile individuals. A characteristic sign of psychopathic disorders is the absence of any manifestations of suffering during medical examinations. Treatment for this condition consists of prescribing sedatives and consulting a psychotherapist.
About one tenth of the causes of sensitivity disorders on one side is encephalitis. Although this is a rare cause of neurological disorders, it should not be forgotten. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by viruses, bacteria or other causes. The disease manifests itself with focal symptoms, for example, numbness in the arm and leg on the left side, and general symptoms: headache, nausea, disturbance of consciousness. Encephalitis can develop after a tick bite, after vaccination, or after visiting tropical countries. Encephalitis is treated in the infectious diseases department of the hospital.
Diseases in which the myelin sheath of the nerves is destroyed are classified as demyelinating. One such serious illness is multiple sclerosis. It should be remembered if the left arm and leg go numb in young patients or if visual impairment or double vision suddenly develops.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the symptom of impaired sensitivity in the arm and leg on one side requires consultation with a neurologist to search for the cause of the disorder. After all, the sooner treatment of the pathology is started, the more favorable the prognosis for recovery or restoration of limb function will be.
Paresthesia - what is it?
The human body is a complex, ideally integral system that responds to the slightest changes in the internal and external environment, manifesting itself in a number of signs and pathologies that affect the quality of our life.
One of these signs is called paresthesia in medicine - this is when the left arm, right, or other parts of the body go numb. Besides the fact that paresthesia of the left upper limb is a very difficult condition, accompanied by a feeling of tingling and crawling, it does not occur by itself, but is a primary sign of quite serious diseases.
The genesis of this condition is due to a violation of skin sensitivity as a result of radicular irritation or compression of nerve fibers, thereby disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses.
Based on the localization of the pathological process, one can determine the reason why, for example, the left arm from the shoulder to the very tips of the fingers goes numb.
In addition, this condition may be accompanied by:
Many patients note a loss of sensation in the hand during night sleep or immediately upon awakening. This can be explained by prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, which causes impaired blood circulation in the limb. Muscle hypertonicity and disruption of the continuous process of blood circulation can cause numbness in the left arm from the elbow to the hand, which cannot be associated with any disease.
You just need to choose a comfortable orthopedic pillow and the problem will solve itself. But loss of sensation in the hand, which manifests itself against the background of vascular pathologies or vertebrological disorders, is already a problem.
the little finger on the left hand goes numb, photo
The main causative factors causing signs of paresthesia of the extremities include a number of internal pathologies.
Heart and vascular diseases
In almost 85% of patients, the feeling that the left hand is numb in the little finger and ring finger is the main indicator of cardiac diseases - acute coronary syndrome, CHF (chronic heart failure), followed by damage to the heart muscle (heart attack).
In patients over 45 years of age, paresthesia of the extremities is provoked by:
A classic example of a disease that causes loss of sensation in the shoulder girdle (numbness of the left arm) is brachial plexitis. It can in turn be provoked by:
The development of paresthesia is a common problem with:
To all these factors we can safely add neuralgia of the intercostal nerves, intervertebral herniated formations and the hypothermia factor. This suggests that the variety of causes completely excludes self-diagnosis and self-medication, and requires qualified help.
Moreover, when it is clarified, ordinary living conditions may well turn out to be the only provocative factor of the disease, the elimination of which will correct the situation.
Paresthesia in the left hand can develop for completely different reasons, independent of pathological processes in the body. May be a consequence:
In such situations, the easiest way to get rid of paresthesia is to eliminate the causative factor or periodically stretch the arm with massage, rubbing, or gymnastic exercises.
In each specific case, the problem of loss of hand sensitivity is solved by doctors - cardiologists, neurologists or vertebrologists. Such symptoms cannot be ignored, especially for those who are susceptible to cardiovascular diseases.
Modern diagnostic techniques will help to quickly identify the causative factor. To identify the cause, the following is prescribed:
The therapeutic treatment plan is drawn up in accordance with the identified pathology. If none is found, the course of therapeutic treatment consists of drugs that have a positive effect on sensitivity disorders.
The treatment course includes “Trental”, “Nicotinic acid”, “Paracetam”, “Actovegin”, vitamin complexes.
To restore sensitivity, physiotherapeutic techniques are used - magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, dynamic currents and mud therapy.
For pathological processes in the trigeminal nerve area, Finlepsin is prescribed in combination with physiotherapy. As preventive measures, detoxification of the body, compresses on the affected areas and prompt removal of tumors (if they are detected) are carried out.
A balanced diet that partially or completely eliminates the use of salt and includes a large number of fruit and vegetable dishes in the diet will help maintain a stable condition after treatment. Quitting alcoholic beverages and abstaining from smoking will only improve the condition.
Numbness in the left hand alone can be caused by many different diseases.
If the hand is positioned incorrectly during work, the nerve is compressed. Most often, people with sedentary jobs (office workers, pianists) suffer from this. The same thing happens during a long sleep in one position. There is no special treatment for this; to avoid numbness, you need to take breaks and self-massage more often.
Numbness in the left arm may be a sign of pathology of the cardiovascular system , angina. If numbness is combined with chest pain, panic, nausea, panic attacks, then this is a signal of a heart attack.
The left hand may become numb after injuries and bruises. Also, prolonged or excessive physical activity will cause numbness. If it is caused simply by fatigue, then treatment consists of proper rest.
The hand may go numb due to neurological pathologies such as osteochondrosis or vertebral displacement. In addition, numbness occurs when the nutrition of muscle tissue is disrupted due to compression of nerve endings.
Poor circulation in the brain and cervical region causes numbness in the left arm. In addition, in combination with high blood pressure and cholesterol, this is a sign of a pre-stroke condition .
Sometimes ordinary stress or a prolonged negative emotional state causes a numb left hand. Treatment is carried out by psychotherapists and this symptom goes away.
In addition to the entire hand, individual fingers may go numb . It is worth paying special attention to this factor, as it indicates different diseases and treatment will be appropriate.
Patients often turn to doctors with discomfort due to numbness of the little finger. Doctors associate numbness in the little finger with work that involves repetitive movements. This is especially true for people who spend most of their time at the computer. Only the little finger can go numb due to the development of the so-called tunnel syndrome. In this case, when the nerves are compressed, a tunnel is formed and when left in one position for a long time, the little finger begins to go numb, weakness and slight tingling are felt.
Ring finger goes numb
If your ring finger often goes numb, then you should not put off going to the cardiologist. If numbness and sensitivity of the finger increases in the spring, then perhaps the reason lies in the lack of vitamins A and B, while the skin on the fingers peels off. In the older generation, atherosclerosis is often characterized by numbness in the fingertips.
Numbness of the thumb
This is a symptom of a pathology of the respiratory system. In addition, numbness of the thumb will be an indirect sign of liver and kidney dysfunction.
Index finger goes numb
In this case, inflammation in the shoulder or elbow is often observed. Additional symptoms will be pain when moving the arm and weakness. Constant monotonous movements cause muscle tension and spasm, which can also cause numbness.
Numbness of the middle finger
As a rule, the middle finger goes numb due to disorders in the cervical spine, in particular, with osteochondrosis. Possible causes may be circulatory disorders and pathologies in the thoracic spine.
Often it is the hand that becomes numb. The reason for this may be compression of the carpal nerve, dysfunction of the endocrine system, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and monotonous movements. When a nerve is compressed for a long time, inflammation, swelling and pain later develop. If you do not see a doctor in time, severe pain occurs.
If the hand becomes numb from the bottom up, then you should be examined as soon as possible for the presence of a blood clot in the artery.
If you experience chronic discomfort, you should visit a specialist. Most pathologies, the symptom of which is a numb limb, are curable.
To restore normal hand function, special exercises and physiotherapy are usually prescribed . It is often enough to take breaks during work for a short massage and spend a few minutes doing exercises.
To prevent numbness, you should give up bad habits, normalize sleep and rest, be less overtired, and eat healthy food. To bring the body back to normal, it is useful to take a multivitamin complex .
In cases where numbness cannot be associated with natural factors (sleep, overwork), it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist. Self-medication is a very unsafe measure to get rid of discomfort, which can lead to complications.
A huge number of people are faced with the phenomenon of numbness of the limbs. Of particular concern is a sharp numbness of the left hand - such a symptom can warn us of quite serious diseases. For example, this could be a pre-infarction condition or a sign of an impending stroke.
But don't panic if your left hand is numb! First, let's look at all the possible reasons. In addition, your hand may become numb during sleep or after prolonged work at the computer - this is not so bad.
If you wake up at night or in the morning, feel an unpleasant tingling in your left hand and can hardly move it, there is most likely no reason for concern. Numbness of the hand, both left and right, may be due to disruption of the blood vessels. Perhaps you simply slept in an awkward position.
Some people also sometimes experience the so-called “lovers syndrome” - everyone probably knows the common sleeping position in which a woman’s head rests on a man’s arm or shoulder.
Because of this, the hand becomes numb, because the vessels in it are pinched and blood circulation is disrupted. So, if you feel numbness in your arm at night or when waking up in the morning, try doing physical exercises. Usually after 5-10 minutes the unpleasant sensations (“goosebumps”) disappear and normal hand mobility returns.
If the symptoms do not recur, then you do not have to worry about anything. If this situation occurs regularly, then it is better to consult a doctor for examination. In some cases, there is numbness in both hands, simultaneously or alternately. This may be a symptom of cervical osteochondrosis or polyneuropathy. Only a specialist can make a more accurate diagnosis.
We found out why your hand goes numb when you sleep. What about numbness during the working day? A huge number of office workers complain from time to time of numbness in their hands. This phenomenon is called "carpal tunnel syndrome." The carpal (or metacarpal) canal is the opening through which the trunk of the median nerve passes.
The metacarpal tunnel is located in the area of the tendon ligaments, which ensure proper mobility of the wrist. This numbness of the hands is sometimes also called “pianist syndrome.” People in various professions that require constant tension on their hands experience “pianist syndrome” at least from time to time. If discomfort occurs rarely and you do not feel severe pain, experts advise simply reducing the load on your wrists and be sure to do exercises for your joints.
However, if the hand often goes numb or the numbness is accompanied by noticeable pain, this may indicate a pinched nerve. In this case, an immediate visit to the doctor is required. In advanced stages, this disease can lead to dire consequences, including loss of the hand.
When you feel numbness in your left arm from the hand and above (the numbness is ascending) and at the same time you feel severe increasing pain, immediately call emergency help. If symptoms persist for more than an hour, it is most likely arterial thrombosis. A person whose left arm is painful and numb must be urgently hospitalized and measures must be taken to restore normal blood flow. The slightest delay can cost the patient a limb.
This is not the only serious problem of which numbness in the left arm can be a symptom. Often this phenomenon indicates an impending stroke or heart attack. If numbness is accompanied by pain in the heart, you cannot hesitate for a second, this is a sign of a pre-heart attack, call an ambulance.
A stroke can sometimes be recognized at an early stage. It may not lead to a serious hemorrhage, however, if a person simultaneously has a numb left arm, a headache and speech impairment (it is difficult to pronounce words), these are already signs of a micro-stroke. Also, these symptoms are often accompanied by disruption of the facial muscles (it is difficult for a person, for example, to smile). In this case, immediate contact with emergency doctors is mandatory.
We figured out the main reasons why the left hand goes numb. Fortunately, the most common is numbness associated with disruption of the circulatory system. It is very simple to eliminate its causes, and besides, it is easy to carry out prevention. Morning exercises, walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition and normal sleep in most cases reduce the likelihood that you will compress your blood channels in your sleep. The same recommendations should be given to those who suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, as well as to people at risk of heart attack or stroke.
As for the last group, one charge will not be enough. Try to avoid stress and see your doctor regularly. It’s better to play it safe once again to prevent a tragedy. If you have problems with blood pressure, get a good blood pressure monitor and measure your blood pressure regularly, especially when you feel unwell. If you see that your blood pressure is even slightly higher than normal, try to take measures to reduce it. This will help prevent critical conditions.
Normal pressure can be calculated using the following formula: