NUMBNESS IN HANDS
Numbness In Hands
Numbness in hands is a condition when you have no feelings in one or both hands.
There is a feeling of numbness on back of your hand, palm, fingers or all of these
areas. Thereby comes the term numbness in hands. Associated pain like problems can
be prickling, pin and needles, or sensations of burning called paresthesias.
Numbness
in hands happens when there is not enough blood supplying a certain location. It
also happens when there is damage to nerves that lead to the hand. When numbness
in hands occurs from nerve damage, it is called carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel
syndrome is also known as a cervical disk problem.
Usually cases of numbness in hands
are not life threatening and the sensation of numbness commonly goes away quickly
on it’s on. For example, sleeping on the arm while the wrist or elbow is bent can
bring on this condition. Once awaken, simply stretching out the wrist or elbow to
allow circulation and blood flow will quickly remedy the problem. However, if your
numbness in hands continue for more then just a few minutes, then you should seek
the advice of your medical doctor to check for any disorder, condition, or disease
causing the symptom.
In some cases numbness in hands along with other symptoms can
be a sign of other diseases which is why it is important to let your doctor know
if this problem is recurrent, or happens with slurred speech, confusion, paralysis,
or weakness in one or both hands. Cases of numbness in hands along with itchiness
could be a sign of multiple sclerosis.
Here are some symptoms that can occur with
numbness in hands: cold fingers, cold hands, feelings of burning, more tingling while
writing or typing, pain in fingers, arms, or hands, itching, twitching, touch sensitivity,
feelings of pins and needles, rash, muscle spasm, and neck pain.
Some possible causes
of numbness in hands could be : injury of brachial plexus, amyloidosis, alcoholism,
diabetes, cervical spondylosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, stroke, raynauds disease,
ganglion cysts, sjogren’s syndrome, guilliain barre syndrome, chemotherapy drugs,
peripheral neuropathy, injury of the spinal cord, paraneoplastic syndrome, deficiency
of vitamin B 12, stroke, vasculitis, compressed ulnar nerve, syingomyelie, and syphilis.
Numbness In Hands Concerns
Numbness in hands can be a reason for major concern among many people. All kinds
of thoughts might run through your head. Is it the beginning of a heart attack or
may it be the onset of a stroke about to happen. Some people might only experience
this feeling on the left side of their body.
Others experience a tingling sensation
coupled with pain in the joints of their wrists as well as numbness of their fingers,
also known as carpal tunnel syndrome. What does it all mean?
Symptoms Related to Numbness In Hands
You will know full well by some or all of the following symptoms if you are experiencing
what we call numbness in hands. You will experience tingling or numbness in hands
and fingers. Your index, middle fingers and thumb will be effected by this sensation.
The palm, wrist of forearm will pain.
The pain and numbness in hands will be worse
at night. You may just wake up from severe pain in the said area. Temporary relief
is possible by shaking your hand or rubbing your wrist.
Pain may also increase when
attempting to use your hand or wrist.
You will find difficulty in gripping certain
objects, such as a bottle or even in opening a door using the door handle. Your thumb
will experience a weak sensation.
What Causes Hand Numbness?
You may question why you experience the numbness in your hand. It's been said that
a pinched nerve could be one possible reason for the tingling sensation you experience
in your wrist, thumb and fingers. This is due to damage incurred to a set of nerves
running down your spine or neck area.
According to a Dr. Angela Mark of Northshore
University, the most common cause for the tingling and numbness in hand experienced
by some, is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is where median nerve endings are compressed
in the carpal tunnel of your wrist.
Other factors that contribute to these symptoms
are an overactive pituitary gland, rheumatoid arthritis, work stress, repeated use
of wrist in using vibrating tools, retention of fluid while pregnant, cyst or tumor
in the canal. There are cases when no apparent cause can be identified.
Writer's
cramp is not be confused with numbness in hand syndrome. Writers often times experience
aches and pain in either the wrist of forearm area due to repetitive typing activities.
Who Would Be At Risk for Numbness In Hands?
Generally numbness in hands are the result of repetitive gripping and pinching by
the hand, while the wrist is bent. People who are more at risk are found among carpenters,
grocery checkers, meat packers, mechanics, musicians, computer workers, and assembly
line workers.
What could happen if you ignore the signs
In cases where the numbness in hands goes untreated, it may very well lead to the
muscles at base of your thumbs being wasted away. The other problem you will find,
is that you will not be able to tell between cold and hot when touching objects with
your fingers or thumb.
We would like to advise especially assembly line workers,
who more commonly experience the numbness in hands syndrome, to do their best in
avoiding permanent damage to their median nerves. They need seriously to consider
a couple of factors to keep working, thereby ensuring a consistent income.
Are Numbness in Feet, Toes and Fingers Related to Numbness in Hands?
You may experience a numbness in hands or feet sensation at times. There is a specific link between hand and feet numbness. If you normally experience numbness in these areas, then it can be pinned down to either a symptom of diabetes II or multiple sclerosis. The second symptom, multiple sclerosis is normally associated with numbness in hands and feet while you are sleeping.