Numbness of the upper extremities is a fairly common occurrence and a complaint that is widely addressed to general practitioners, massage therapists and traumatologists. Why can my right hand go numb? What to do when your right arm, wrist, hand, and fingers of your right hand go numb? In this article we will talk about the most common causes of numbness.
Most often, numbness of the extremities is observed in elderly people due to circulatory disorders and progressive cardiovascular diseases.
Loss of sensation in the right hand may be associated with incorrect position of the hand during night sleep, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position in which the right hand was pressed. Numbness of the right limb can last several minutes and go away after light self-massage, or it can torment a person for several hours or even days.
Let's look at the most common causes of numbness in the right hand:
If numbness of a limb is caused by improper sleep posture, work habits, etc., then this phenomenon of loss of sensitivity can be dealt with through a little self-massage.
But, if the cause of numbness in the right limb lies in pathologies of the body, then you will have to resort to the help of doctors, and possibly drug treatment.
Above we looked at typical common phenomena that can lead to numbness in the right hand. That is, they are in no way related to diseases of the body.
Now, let's look at the most likely causes of damage to the right hand due to pathologies in the body:
Most often, programmers, office workers, musicians, and artists suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as pathological compression.
When the fingers of the right hand go numb, this condition may be accompanied by such concomitant symptoms as:
If a person’s hand often goes numb, this may indicate 9 common pathologies such as:
For example, if only the thumb of the right hand is numb, this indicates pinched nerve vessels. When the sensitivity of the little finger is lost, this is a neuropathology of the ulnar nerve. IN
Important! If the little finger begins to numb quite sharply, while there is a pinching sensation in the heart, and there is not enough air, then this condition may indicate an impending stroke.
If your right arm goes numb in your sleep, this indicates that it is time to change your pillow or your body position while resting. As a rule, numbness of the right hand is observed in those people who prefer to sleep with their right hand under their head or under the pillow.
But, nevertheless, if this condition recurs even when you change the position of your body in sleep and the pillow, then the reason is pathological disorders of the body.
In pregnant women, the right upper limb may swell due to pressure on the nerve endings of fluid, which rapidly accumulates in the tissues in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
Numbness of the right hand can accompany pregnant women for several days in a row.
If there is numbness in the right limb, first of all, you need to consult a neurologist!
There is hardly a person who has never experienced the feeling of numbness in his hand in his life. This can happen during sleep, when the hand has been lying in an uncomfortable position for a long time, or during wakefulness, if the shoulder or elbow has been in a clamped state for a long time. But, unfortunately, the hand can go numb for other reasons that require treatment both at home and with the help of medications. What is the cause of numbness? What provokes this very unpleasant condition? Let's figure it out.
If your hands often go numb and hurt? this is a reason to see a doctor. It is necessary to undergo an examination and be sure to identify the cause of the trouble. The hand can go numb for many reasons.
If the sensitivity of your hand has sharply decreased, it is recommended to try to clench and unclench your fist several times, shake your hand, and twirl your hand.
Then rub the numb area in the direction from the hand to the shoulder. Rubbing should be done with a fist or bent fingers of the second hand. If you have an applicator nearby, apply it to the numb area.
Contrasting hand baths will also help restore sensitivity. You need to pour warm, almost hot water into one container, and into the second? cold. Place your hands in each container one by one for a few minutes.
Causes of hand numbness:
• High pressure . With high blood pressure, the left hand or individual fingers usually go numb. This usually happens in the evening before bed. At first there is a feeling of heaviness in the hand, it seems to “ache”, it is impossible to find a comfortable place for it. It seems that all this comes from insomnia. In fact, high blood pressure is to blame. High blood pressure is a consequence of vasoconstriction, which causes poor blood supply, which leads to an unpleasant syndrome. But in this case, the hand sends a signal to the body about more serious problems that may arise due to the lack of proper treatment. If you do not reduce your blood pressure and maintain it at normal levels, a stroke or heart attack may occur.
Take the time to get out of bed and measure your blood pressure, and then take the right medicine. Usually after 20 minutes the hand stops going numb and the insomnia subsides. Of course, this is not all treatment. You will have to do cleansing of blood vessels, proper nutrition, and massage.
• The left arm may go numb due to coronary heart disease . Chest pain and numbness in left arm? a formidable sign. In this case, you must immediately call an ambulance.
If the little finger or ring finger on the left hand goes numb, this may be a harbinger of ischemic cerebral hemorrhage . In this case, an urgent consultation with a cardiologist is required.
The left hand can also go numb due to:
• If your left arm goes numb upward from the hand, with rapidly growing severe pain, immediately call an ambulance. The cause may be arterial thrombosis . Delay in such a situation may cost the patient the loss of his arm.
When numbness occurs, it is important not to miss the symptom of paresthesia that occurs due to compression of the nerve by the tumor. In this case, with serious damage to the nerve fibers, trophic disorders appear in the form of blue skin and loss of sensitivity.
The right hand goes numb most often in older people due to impaired blood flow:
Hands go numb due to poor circulation, leading to vascular damage, and a lack of vitamin B12, which is involved in the metabolic process of nerve fibers.
Stressful situations cause nervous tension, anxiety, and irritation. Excitation is transmitted by the nervous system to all organs. There is a rapid heartbeat, sometimes abdominal pain and numbness in the arms or legs. In this situation, it is very important to calm down in time and prevent neurosis from developing. You should drink a glass of clean water, breathe fresh air, take a motherwort or valerian tablet.
Tight, uncomfortable clothing, standing for long periods of time, or carrying a heavy bag on your shoulder or bent arm can also cause hand numbness.
The hands of musicians, people working at computers, and drivers often go numb. In advanced cases, carpal tunnel syndrome may develop. Due to compression of the median nerve, which is located between the bones and tendons of the wrist muscles, the thumb begins to go numb. Changing activities helps to get rid of this condition. In advanced cases, necrosis of the muscles of the thumb may occur and the inability to bend it at the joint.
To prevent the syndrome, one should not forget about breaks during the working day and changes in activities. Measures aimed at improving blood circulation are good prevention of the disease. Don't forget about gymnastics and massage. Massage with a manual massager of the shoulder girdle and elbow joint should be carried out daily. If it was not possible to avoid the occurrence of the disease when severe pain occurs that does not go away after various manipulations and taking medications, it is necessary to resort to surgery, which will help free the pinched nerve and relieve unpleasant painful symptoms.
You can check the condition of your wrists yourself. Take the test. Bring your hands together with the backs of your hands and extend your arms forward, pointing your elbows in different directions and bending your wrists at right angles. If you feel pain? take care of your health!
Hands or fingers go numb in the morning or when staying in the same sitting position for a long time due to degenerative changes in the cervical spine. In this case, an uncomfortable position of the head or overstrain of the neck muscles leads to pinching of the spinal column nerves by the spinal discs. Numbness can even radiate to the shoulder.
A special orthopedic pillow that has a special shape, follows the curves of the neck and shoulders and supports the cervical spine, ensuring its constant natural position, can help in such a situation.
Special gymnastics and massage are also indicated in this case. It is necessary to monitor your posture, try not to gain excess weight, and avoid salty and smoked foods that cause salt deposits.
Drinking spicy, salty foods, strong tea or coffee, or alcohol before bed can cause numbness in your hands.
If your hands often go numb at night, there is a feeling of heaviness in them, this indicates cardiac pathologies, problems of the musculoskeletal system, vegetative-vascular dystonia, hormonal imbalance, and vitamin deficiency.
During pregnancy, women often experience cramping pain in their fingers, a feeling of pressure, and numbness in the wrists and palms. This happens from overvoltage. It is advisable to regularly massage in areas of numbness, follow a salt-free diet to avoid severe swelling, and move more.
If your hand goes numb for no apparent reason, is the numbness accompanied by pain, vomiting, dizziness? Call an ambulance immediately!
It will not be possible to carry out any serious treatment for numbness at home - you will still have to consult a doctor for advice and examination. Everything we can do to alleviate the situation was described above - massage, drinking water, fresh air, weight loss, salt-free diet, orthopedic pillow, movement. To this you can add taking vitamins or foods rich in vitamins A, B12, nicotinic acid and cleansing the blood vessels with folk remedies.
3 cups of chopped garlic and 1 cup of granulated sugar are added to 3 liters of whey. Stir, add 1 spoon of sour cream for fermentation and leave to ferment for 2 months, stirring once a day. The resulting mass is drunk 50 ml before meals 3 times a day. For a course of treatment for numbness in the hands, you should drink 9 liters of tincture - this is about 2 months.
This is a very strong “medicine” that cleanses all blood vessels in the human body, and if the cause of numbness was clogged blood vessels, then you will no longer remember the problem.
Take the red beet tops and stuff them into a large saucepan. Fill with water so that it just covers the tops, put on the fire and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Then wrap the pan and place it in a warm place to steep for 4 hours. After straining, drink half a glass of the decoction 4 times a day before meals.
It is very quick and easy to prepare. This Tibetan recipe for cleansing blood vessels will require 500 grams of peeled garlic, 2 medium lemons with peel and 500 grams of quality honey. Grind the garlic and lemons and mix with honey. The balm is ready for use. Eat 1 teaspoon 3 times a day between meals until all is gone. After a month's break, the course of treatment for hand numbness can be repeated.
But what to do if numbness in your hands occurs occasionally at night? For this, in folk medicine there is a very simple method of getting rid of it, but according to the reviews of people who have tried it, it is very effective and efficient. Take a small potato, the size of your palm so that it fits in it, but your fingertips do not touch each other. Wash it thoroughly, take it in your numb hand and go to sleep. It is clear that potatoes will fall out during sleep, so everyone tries to adapt as best they can to prevent this from happening - you can put a sock or a stretchable glove on your palm.
The idea is that during sleep, the potato presses on one point in the center of the palm, which in Chinese medicine is called lao gong, which is associated with the cervical and brachial canals. Massaging this point during sleep activates electrical impulses that improve blood circulation throughout the arm, palm and fingers. Just a few nights with potatoes will normalize the condition and your hands will stop cramping at night.
Normal blood circulation is one of the main factors in maintaining health. Improving blood circulation is facilitated by following the rules of proper nutrition (refusal of salty, smoked foods, store-bought sausages), adherence to the drinking regime, daily exercises and massage.
Clothing should not be tight.
Do not carry heavy bags on your shoulder or bent arm.
Numbness of the extremities, including the hands, is increasingly common in patients of different age groups, this is called paresthesia. Mostly, complaints come from people leading a sedentary lifestyle. This problem creates discomfort and interferes with the flow of normal life. Numbness of the hands can occur at night, during sleep. During the day, for example, during work, when your hands are in the same uncomfortable position, working at a computer is also a risk zone.
The most common cause of numbness is pressure on a nerve, hence poor circulation. And this happens due to an uncomfortable body position. Often, a person lies uncomfortably, sits a lot, physical inactivity is the scourge of megacities. An incorrectly selected pillow can cause overstrain of the neck muscles. Working at a computer in one position for a long time. Modern man does not know how to relax. If you change your position, move your limb, restore blood flow and the numbness goes away, then you shouldn’t worry. Chronic numbness of the limbs is a reason to consult a doctor for examination and diagnosis.
A common cause of numbness is cervical osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis is a common disease of the cartilaginous surfaces of bones, mainly the spine. Nerve compression can be caused by cartilage overgrowth (osteophytes), herniated discs, muscle spasms, or degenerative changes in the spine.
The most dangerous situation is numbness in the hands, which is caused by circulatory problems in the brain. This is one of the signs of a developing stroke, often accompanied by high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Stress, depression, and other psycho-emotional conditions can also cause numbness.
If your left arm goes numb and your heart hurts, it could be a disease of the cardiovascular system. With myocardial ischemia, a pressing sensation occurs, spreading to the left arm, and it becomes numb. This condition can occur after stress and after exercise, even overeating can cause a similar reaction. Intercostal neuralgia from hypothermia causes pain in the left side of the chest and numbness in the arm.
The etiology of the pain must be diagnosed by a doctor. Prescribing a blood test for biochemistry, it will determine cholesterol levels, ultrasound of blood vessels and computed tomography will determine the pathology of circulatory disorders, the presence of blood clots and the risk of stroke. Electroneuromyography will reveal pinched nerves or muscle spasms. Brain circulatory disorders will be determined by nuclear magnetic resonance, and an x-ray of the spine will give a clear picture of the condition of the vertebrae.
If the cause of numbness in the hands is not the presence of a disease, a person can help himself and get rid of the disease. Regular physical activity to restore blood flow, morning exercises, aerobics, running and walking at a fast pace. To maintain blood vessels and joints in good shape, you need to give up bad habits - alcohol and smoking. Limit foods such as salty, hot and too spicy in your diet. Include more vegetables, fruits and herbs in the menu. Every day there should be hot food on the table.
To prevent numbness, you need to dress in such a way as not to freeze, giving preference to natural fabrics - excessive sweating provokes hypothermia. When working monotonously at a computer or at a desk, you need to take breaks approximately every hour, during which you can stretch your stiff limbs, do light exercises, and rotate your arms and hands. The doctor will recommend therapeutic exercises for you to perform during breaks.
If numbness in the hands is associated with the presence of osteochondrosis, the neurologist will advise you on anti-inflammatory drugs that dilate and strengthen bone tissue. Along with drug treatment, you can undergo treatment with an osteopath, massage therapist or acupuncturist. Tilt your head more often, forward, down and to the sides, but do not throw it back sharply, such a movement is not recommended. Lowering the shoulders will help relieve pressure on the cervical spine. There is special gymnastics for the cervical spine, which can be performed without leaving your workplace. Self-massage of the neck and forearms will help.
A visit to a chiropractor will help with displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Compressed nerve endings will be released by traction therapy or special spinal traction, which will bring quick relief. And removing triggers and blocks, areas where pain occurs, will help you forget about pain and numbness in your hands for a long time.
If the cause of numbness is a microstroke, without proper treatment from a doctor it can develop into serious cerebral circulatory disorders with mental and physical disorders. Diagnosis and treatment are carried out only by a doctor! In the case of a disease of the cardiovascular system, do not risk your health and also consult a specialist.
Being in constant nervous tension, a stressful state, provokes pinched nerves from impaired blood flow, muscle tightness, which causes numbness in the hands. Treatment in this case is carried out individually by a neurologist or psychiatrist. If a person can associate numbness with a certain event, then with the help of relaxation, discarding problems, it is possible to free oneself from the disease. Be at peace with yourself, do yoga, learning the unity of soul and body, a way out of stress, and therefore liberation from illnesses.
The best treatment for a disease is its prevention. A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, a positive attitude, peace and tranquility in the soul will not allow diseases to win. But in any case, seeing a doctor is the best way out. Numbness of the hands is not a disease, but a symptom; finding the cause and proper treatment is the key to health.
A sudden or gradual decrease in sensation in the upper extremity most often occurs as numbness in the right hand. The hand, fingers, or entire arm become numb.
We will discuss why this happens and how to deal with numbness in this article.
The most common occurrence of leakage is in old age, since at this stage of life a person is most susceptible to cardiovascular diseases.
There can be many reasons for loss of sensation in the upper limb. Numbness can occur throughout the day, at night during sleep, and when staying in a stationary position for a long time. The leakage can go away on its own and quickly, but it can also drag on for several hours or even days.
The most common causes of numbness in the right hand:
A little day-to-day running can usually be dealt with. To do this, you just need to periodically change the position of your hands, do light exercises, restoring impaired blood flow.
If your right hand, and especially its fingers, go numb very often and for a long time, this may be a sign of some disease. The causes of regular loss of sensation in the fingers and upper limbs may be:
Another cause of numbness in the little finger of the right hand may be compression-ischemic neuropathy, or carpal tunnel syndrome. The essence of the disease is compression of the median nerve fiber by the bone and tendon elements of the wrist. Typically, this pathology occurs in people older than middle age, whose work involves the monotonous assembly of small parts of something. In addition, musicians, experienced writers and artists, and sign language interpreters may suffer from neuropathy.
The greatest number of cases of numbness in the fingers of the right hand can be accompanied by the following clinical symptoms:
Streakness in the fingertips of the right hand is often considered a sign of neurovascular disorders, as a consequence of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae or long-term hypertension.
Numbness of the right hand is a common sign of osteochondrosis changes, indicating the presence of an intervertebral hernia, a disorder of the blood supply, compression of nerve fibers in specific places where they exit, or damage to the nerves due to deforming arthrosis. Such signs are relevant for metabolic disorders, migraines, and sclerotic changes in blood vessels. Sometimes numbness may indicate a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body.
Numbness of the ring finger of the right hand can be caused by pinched nerve roots, as a result of an uncomfortable position of the hands during complex, meticulous work, carrying heavy objects, or an uncomfortable position in sleep. Such leakage is quickly eliminated with a change in activity or awkward position of the upper limb. The function of the numb finger is restored, which is accompanied by a feeling of heat and blood flow.
If numbness recurs frequently and continues for several minutes in a row, you should consult a doctor, especially if the numbness is accompanied by pain.
Numbness of the little finger on the right hand, especially when combined with impaired flexion function, most likely indicates neuropathology of the ulnar nerve. It should be noted that this disease is more common in right-handed people, who use their right hand more actively. However, often the numbness of the little finger is one of the first signs of a pre-stroke condition. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to ignore this symptom.
Numbness of the right thumb is often accompanied by loss of sensation in the index and middle fingers. This happens when, with prolonged strain, the tendon swells. This swelling, in turn, puts pressure on the nearby nerve, which is responsible for innervation of the palmar surface, as well as the thumb, index and middle fingers. Signs of numbness are most clearly expressed at night, or closer to dawn.
If numbness of the thumb is observed on the right and left hands at the same time, this may indicate a disorder or displacement of the cervical vertebrae. This condition is often accompanied by weakness of the affected fingers, and rarely by painful sensations in the outer shoulder area and forearm.
Numbness of the middle finger of the right hand is usually associated with pathologies of the elbow joint: diseases of a traumatic, infectious-inflammatory and trophic nature. Most often these are neuritis, myositis, contractures, bursitis, arthritis or osteoarthritis. These diseases are mostly associated with trauma to the elbow area, both due to sudden and gradual effects of external force on the joint.
Streakness in the index finger of the right hand is often associated with damage to the brachial plexuses. Along with the loss of sensitivity, there may be a weakness in the grip of the hand, as well as unexpressed pain when trying to bend the hand at the joint.
If the index finger goes numb “in company” with the thumb or middle finger, then this can be considered a symptom of damage to the discs of the spinal column, especially the cervical spine and cervical muscles.
It is necessary to realize that the exact diagnosis and causes of numbness in the fingers of the right hand can only be determined by a specialist. In addition to diagnosis, the doctor will be able to prescribe the qualified treatment necessary in your case.
Simultaneous numbness of the entire right side of the body, and, in particular, the right arm and leg, accompanied by impaired motor coordination and muscle weakness, can be observed with the following pathologies:
Numbness in the right arm and leg at the same time is a serious signal that not everything is okay with the body. Contact a good specialist: in such a situation you should not waste precious time.
Loss of sensation in the right hand during sleep may be due to an incorrectly selected pillow or an uncomfortable position of the body during sleep. Often the right hand becomes numb because a person likes to sleep with his hand under his head or hugging a pillow. In order to get rid of numbness, it is enough to choose a more physiological pillow or change the habit of putting your hands under your head.
However, sometimes numbness in the fingers of the right hand at night can indicate hidden pathologies, and even very serious ones.
The first possible cause of loss of sensitivity is compression of nerve fibers by nearby swollen or spasmodic muscles or areas of tendons. This condition can occur with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, with scalenus syndrome and tunnel neuropathy.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is characterized by compression of the nerve endings, their swelling, which is accompanied by soreness of the muscles of the neck, shoulder girdle and upper extremities.
Scalenus syndrome can be associated with professional activities, or with long-term work on the keyboard. Additional factors in the development of this syndrome may be:
If the loss of sensation in your right hand or fingers does not disappear within 20-30 minutes, you should definitely visit a doctor, or even call an ambulance. Long-term leakage can be caused by diseases of the vascular system:
If numbness at night bothers you too often, you need to get examined. Therefore, the best solution in this situation would be to consult a neurologist.
Pregnant women, especially in the second and third trimesters, often complain of a transient loss of sensation in some parts of the body, and in particular the right arm.
Numbness of the right hand during pregnancy most often occurs due to pressure on the nerve endings of excess fluid accumulating in the tissues. After all, it’s no secret that swelling of the limbs often occurs during pregnancy. Numbness due to edema is characterized by intensification at night and almost complete disappearance during the day.
In most cases, to solve the problem of numbness in the limb, special physical exercises should be performed to increase blood circulation in the hands.
In principle, there should be no special cause for concern: numbness in the hand does not in any way affect the development of the unborn baby or the course of pregnancy. As a rule, after the birth of a child, all signs of sensory impairment disappear without a trace.
However, in order to alleviate your condition, remember a few simple rules:
If the numbness does not go away within a few minutes, during your next visit to the doctor, be sure to tell him about the problem. Additional diagnosis of the disease may be required.
Before starting treatment for numbness in the right hand, the doctor must identify the cause of this condition. After all, it is not the numbness that should be treated, but the pathology that provoked the loss of sensitivity.
The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment. You may need the help of a vertebrologist, orthopedist and massage therapist.
If numbness is associated with endocrine diseases, for example, diabetes, then it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist regarding the correction of the amount of glucose in the blood, and also take a course of prophylaxis with vitamin preparations (in particular, B vitamins). In addition, you may need to take medications that improve blood circulation in the extremities.
If leakage is associated with anemia and hypovitaminosis, you should undergo a course of treatment with antianemic drugs and vitamin complexes. It is recommended to engage in therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy.
Treatment of numbness in the fingers of the right hand may not bring the expected result if generally accepted rules regarding a healthy lifestyle are not followed. The diet should be healthy, balanced, with a minimum amount of chemicals and dyes. You should stop drinking alcohol, cigarettes, and limit your coffee consumption. It is necessary to forget about strict diets and switch to good nutrition. The body needs meat products, red vegetables and fruits, sea fish, herbs, and vegetable oil.
You need to make sure that your hands don’t freeze during the cold season. You should dress according to the weather.
If the numbness of the right arm is associated with displacement of the vertebrae in the cervical region, the doctor may prescribe medications that improve metabolic processes in bone tissue, as well as massage, reflexology, and exercise therapy.
Treatment of numbness may consist of physiotherapy sessions: UHF, phonophoresis, diadynamic currents.
If loss of sensitivity is associated with joint diseases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets or ointments may be prescribed. These drugs include Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen.
You can treat numbness in your right hand using traditional methods.
Treatment with folk remedies is best done under the supervision of a doctor.
In order to prevent diseases of the cervical spine and to increase blood circulation in the right limb, specially designed physical exercises can be used. Such exercises will eliminate numbness, headaches, and restore the motor ability of the limb.
The duration of the gymnastics is about 15 minutes. If possible, repeat the exercises up to 3 times a day.
Such simple exercises will not only eliminate numbness in the right hand, but will also serve as a good prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, and also have a beneficial effect on the body as a whole.
Portnov Alexey Alexandrovich
Education: Kiev National Medical University. A.A. Bogomolets, specialty - "General Medicine"