Numbness in the upper extremities is a fairly common phenomenon; both children and adults have encountered such sensations. Cases when the thumb on the right hand goes numb equally indicate that the person, for example, has been working at the computer on the keyboard for a long time, and that pathology is developing in the body.
There are therapeutic and preventive complexes that can minimize pain and tingling. Before choosing a list of procedures or making an appointment with a neurologist, you need to clearly understand the reasons why the middle finger on your right hand or the rest goes numb.
Kinds
Before contacting a specialist for qualified help, it is important to determine the type of tingling (the medical definition is paresthesia). Thus, each type of illness speaks of various types of disorders in the body.
- The little finger of the right hand goes numb - the nerves are pinched and cervical osteochondrosis develops.
- Middle finger – damage to the cervical vertebrae of the collar zone occurs.
- Ring finger – if the finger is not pulled over the wedding ring, then muscle strain should be suspected.
- Numbness in the thumbs of the right and left hands - the cause may lie in a basic lack of vitamins, muscle strain or inflammation of the brachial nerve. But you should also be wary of more dangerous diagnoses, namely: pre-stroke condition, disturbances in the functioning of the nervous and cardiac systems.
- The index finger goes numb when the metabolic system does not work properly, or when the nervous system malfunctions due to stress and breakdowns.
- The little finger and ring fingers of the left hand – the functions of the cardiovascular system are impaired.
What can you think about when different fingers are numb?
All fingers on the hand are innervated differently, and by the characteristics of unpleasant sensations one can indirectly judge what caused the disease.
The first or thumb on the palmar surface is innervated by the median nerve, most often irritation is caused by compression or compression. People who constantly load this finger suffer - watchmakers, pianists, jewelers.
In some cases, the cause is a benign tumor that mechanically compresses the nerve. This may be a neurofibroma arising from supporting or glial nerve cells, or a hemangioma, the source of which was capillaries.
People who constantly carry heavy bags or grip handlebars excessively may develop stenotic transverse ligamentosis. This is a condition in which the ligaments lose their natural elasticity, become stiff and stop stretching. The result is the so-called carpal tunnel syndrome with damage to the median nerve.
The index finger and thumb on the dorsal surface are innervated by the radial nerve. Impaired sensitivity in them may be a manifestation of inflammation of the epicondyles of the humerus or epicondylitis, or compression of the radial nerve in the area of the humerus.
You should consult a doctor if numbness lasts longer than 5 - 10 minutes, does not go away after kneading and straightening the hand, and repeats several times during the week.
The middle finger of the hand is partly innervated by the median and partly by the ulnar and radial nerves - its numbness is accompanied by a feeling of “twisting” of the entire palm, similar to calf cramps. Sensory disturbances also appear in this finger when carpal tunnel syndrome occurs, when the transverse ligament presses the nerve too much against the bones of the wrist. Loss of sensitivity is noticeable more often at night, it becomes difficult to hold objects, and shaking the hand stops the discomfort. It seems to a person that the brush has become heavier and thicker. Sometimes swelling does occur.
Often, numbness of the finger occurs in people who are constantly exposed to hypothermia, when they develop inflammation of the inner wall of blood vessels or endarteritis.
The fourth and fifth or ring and little fingers are innervated by the ulnar nerve. The habit of constantly leaning on the elbow, as well as working with trays and daily overload of the wrist contribute to the damage. In men, numbness of these fingers may be the first sign of contracture due to degeneration of the aponeurosis or tendon plate of the palm. Unpleasant sensations in these fingers cannot be ignored, since if the ulnar nerve is damaged, contracture or immobility can form in the joints of the fingers.
Fingertips - it is most difficult to determine why the tips become numb, since the number of reasons is large. This is a violation of the blood supply in the cervical spine, caused by the formation of an atherosclerotic plaque, iron deficiency, the onset of diabetes mellitus, and inflammation of the pancreas. This is inflammation and degeneration of the finger joints, Raynaud's syndrome, venous insufficiency and thrombophlebitis that complicates it. These are chronic stresses and acute traumatic experiences that happen in the life of every person. These are arterial hypertension or vascular hypotension, chronic poisoning, harmful working conditions.
Causes
Paresthesia is not always associated with a painful condition of the body (neuralgia). Non-medical causes of numbness in the fingers include:
- general hypothermia of the body or upper extremities;
- consequence of hand injury;
- sleeping in an unnatural position;
- poisoning of the body with alcohol, drugs, chemicals;
- wearing tight-fitting jewelry (rings, bracelets);
- keeping your fingers in one position for a long time (knitting, typing on the keyboard).
REFERENCE! During pregnancy, a woman may experience numbness in her limbs due to the increased load on the body and hormonal changes.
If tingling is felt with constant frequency and is present in the same limb or finger, you should immediately contact a specialist for timely diagnosis and prescription of effective treatment.
Medical causes of the disease include:
- osteochondrosis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- tunnel syndrome;
- inflammatory processes in the joints;
- failure of the cardiovascular system;
- cerebral hemorrhage;
- brain activity disorders;
- improper blood circulation against the background of developing diabetes mellitus;
- thrombosis;
- disruption of the endocrine system;
- nail fungus;
- avitaminosis.
It should be borne in mind that the proper functioning of the body directly depends on the lifestyle that a person leads. Bad habits have a tremendous impact on the body's ability to function properly.
The tips of the thumbs go numb
Diseases in which the tips of the thumbs go numb are mainly associated with impaired capillary bed patency. This may be a consequence of a violation of the innervation of the vascular wall. But more often, angiopathy develops against the background of long-term negative effects of a toxic substance.
In the vast majority of cases, if a young person has numbness in the tip of the thumb on his right hand (or left), then during the collection of anamnesis it turns out that he has been smoking for several years. Tobacco smoke contains many toxic substances that spasm blood vessels. If they are large in lumen, then this has little effect at first. But this has a detrimental effect on small capillaries. First, the vascular wall collapses. Then it sticks together and the vessel becomes sclerotic. There is a complete lack of blood supply to the distal (remote) parts of the body. Typically, the tips of the fingers and toes are the first to be affected. If this process is not stopped, then over the next 5 to 7 years a person will develop obliterating endarteritis, which will entail the need for amputation of the affected limb.
If the tip of the thumb on your left hand becomes numb, then you need to exclude cardiac pathology and check the conduction of the nerve impulse along the median nerve. This may be a sign of developing carpal valve syndrome.
Which doctor treats
For regularly recurring attacks of paresthesia, seeking professional medical help is a must. First of all, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist.
When choosing a clinic, you should take into account the presence of its own diagnostic facilities, the experience and qualifications of the working specialists (in particular, neurologists).
ATTENTION! The Kuntsevo Treatment and Rehabilitation Center has an extensive diagnostic base in all possible areas (MRI, ultrasound, electroneuromyography, etc.) to quickly and accurately determine a patient’s diagnosis.
Basic tests and procedures to make a correct diagnosis:
- blood and urine tests;
- blood sugar level analysis;
- Ultrasound, ECG of the heart muscle;
- MRI of the hand;
- Dopplerography of blood vessels, etc.
If necessary, additional studies will be ordered to more accurately diagnose the patient.
Depending on the nature of the origin of the symptom, based on the tests performed, the specialist will prescribe the most effective treatment in each specific case. The clinic employs the best neurologists, orthopedic traumatologists, rheumatologists, endocrinologists, cardiologists, chiropractors, rehabilitation specialists and other specialized specialists with many years of experience.
Numbness of the fingers is a sign that indicates neurological disorders in a person’s limbs.
IMPORTANT! A slight decrease in sensitivity can become a real problem after some time if timely treatment is not started by a qualified specialist.
Self-medication, as in all other cases, threatens not only to complicate the situation, but also to develop other neurological disorders. Therefore, make an appointment with an experienced neurologist at our center, who will conduct a full range of diagnostics, determine the causes of your condition and prescribe effective treatment.
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Treatment methods
Treatment for numbness in the fingers is carried out in several ways.
- Drug therapy. The doctor selects a course of effective, maximally safe medications, creams or ointments to relieve inflammation, relieve swelling and eliminate severe pain.
- Local treatment. In this case, therapeutic massage or manual therapy is used.
- Physiotherapy. Treatment is carried out with laser, magnet or ultrasound. As a result of this approach, blood circulation in the body is normalized and damaged tissues are regenerated.
- Exercise therapy and gymnastics. Relieves pain, restores normal sensitivity in the limbs, and alleviates the general condition.
IMPORTANT! The priority area of work of the CLRC is conservative therapy. The prescription of powerful, at the same time safe, pain-relieving drugs is combined with manual therapy, physical therapy, physiotherapy and massages. Only an integrated approach will help achieve the desired result quickly and for a long time.
What to do
If the hands become numb in the absence of any pathologies, eliminating the causative factor is usually sufficient to normalize the patient’s condition. There is no need for treatment; you can help with a light massage, warm baths, and finger exercises.
When there is numbness in the extremities due to pathological processes in the body, the choice of treatment regimen depends on the disease. Applicable:
- drug therapy (anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, drugs to improve blood circulation, vitamin complexes);
- hardware physiotherapy, physical therapy, massage.
In the absence of effect from conservative therapy, surgical treatment may be necessary in some cases.
General recommendations
It is recommended to enrich the diet with vitamins and minerals. The daily menu should include more fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, and seafood.
The table shows foods rich in vitamins, the deficiency of which can lead to the development of numbness in the hands.
| Vitamin | Products |
| Vitamin A | Carrots, pumpkin, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, dried apricots, apricots, persimmons, liver (chicken, beef, pork), rose hips, dandelions |
| B vitamins | Tomatoes, asparagus, spinach, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, oats, cashews, almonds, walnuts, peanuts |
| Vitamin E | Vegetable oils, eggs, fish, nuts, peas, potatoes, buckwheat, lettuce |
In addition, it is recommended:
- increasing immunity;
- normalization of body weight;
- avoiding excessive physical and mental stress;
- normalization of work and rest schedules;
- wearing comfortable clothes;
- rejection of bad habits;
- avoiding hypothermia.
Rehabilitation and lifestyle restoration
Rehabilitation programs at the CLRC are developed in different directions in order to select the most effective one in each individual case.
- Physiotherapy.
- Manual therapy.
- Reflexology.
- Physiotherapy.
- Massage.
- HILT therapy.
- Shock wave therapy (SWT).
- Electrotherapy (SMT therapy).
- Electrophoresis with Karipazim.
- Dry traction of the spine.
- Laser therapy.
- Rehabilitation after endoprosthetics.
Lifestyle with paresthesia
To eliminate the possibility of a return of symptoms of paresthesia, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Do not drink alcohol, nicotine, or drugs.
- Eat well. Eliminate food waste from your diet (sugar, white flour, preservatives, etc.)
- Meals should be fractional. Avoid overeating.
- Periodically monitor blood glucose levels and measure blood pressure.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a daily routine.
- Sleep at least 8 hours a day.
