Causes Of Numbness In Fingers

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Causes of numbness in fingers

Numbness of the fingers is a fairly common phenomenon, and not only people of retirement age, but also quite young people face this problem. The lack of sensitivity of the limbs is replaced by a tingling sensation, and sometimes aching pain.

If we exclude such situations when a person sleeps in an uncomfortable position, we can say with certainty that numbness of the hands and fingers is a symptom of the disease. Most often, it indicates circulatory disorders or problems with the spine, but sometimes a stroke or thrombosis of the upper limb can be the cause. In this case, you need to urgently seek help, as otherwise you can lose your hand and even your life.

What causes numbness in the fingertips

The list of causes of finger numbness is wide enough. For example, thumbs and index fingers become numb, as a rule, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Elbow injury and inflammation can lead to similar sensations in the middle and index fingers. With heart disease, the little and ring fingers often go numb. It is impossible to generalize these cases: only a doctor is able to establish the correct diagnosis.

So, the causes of numbness in the fingers are:

• Spinal dysfunctions;
• Pinched nerve;
• Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
• Stroke;
• Diabetes;
• Intervertebral hernia;
• Compression of nerves in the elbow, ankle, or wrist;
• Rheumatism and joint inflammation;
• Upper limb thrombosis;
• Nerve damage due to hereditary diseases, or as a result of pathological changes in the joints;
• Violation of blood circulation in the limbs;
• Raynaud's syndrome;
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Lack of vitamins (especially B12) and trace elements;
• Endocrine system diseases;
• Injuries;
• Alcohol abuse.

Diagnosis of pathology

In order to exclude and prevent severe disorders of cerebral circulation, accurate and timely diagnosis of the disease is required. For complaints of numbness in the fingers, the doctor may prescribe the following research methods:

• X-ray of the cervical spine. It is recommended to take pictures in several projections, as this will help to most accurately identify the place of localization of compression of nerves and blood vessels;
• Doppler sonography (study of patency) of the arteries of the spine and neck;
• Magnetic resonance angiography of the vessels of the vertebrobasilar zone and the brain;
• Electroencephalography;
• Echoencephalography;
• Magnetic resonance imaging and computer scanning of the cervical spine and brain.

You can start a detailed diagnosis of the disease only after making sure that there are no pathologies on the part of the central nervous system.

Treatment for numbness in the fingers

The choice of treatment tactics depends on the cause of the disorders in the upper limbs. Therapy methods can vary greatly and are selected individually for each specific situation. For example, treatments for finger numbness in osteochondrosis will be harmful in Raynaud's disease, and the opposite is true as well.

Sometimes a change of clothes and special exercises are enough, but if, as a result of diagnostics, such dangerous diseases as circulatory disorders or diabetes mellitus are confirmed, drug therapy and an appeal to specialists of the appropriate profile will be required.

With numbness of the fingertips due to osteochondrosis, acupuncture, which is an oriental method of treatment, helps well. Sometimes it is permissible to use traditional medicine, but only after prior consultation and approval from a doctor.

Treatment with folk remedies

Non-traditional recipes and remedies, due to their availability, cheapness and ease of use, are often used at home. However, it should be understood that they are aimed at temporary relief of pain and numbness, that is, they eliminate or alleviate the symptom, but do not treat the root cause. Some of them are presented below:

• Pumpkin porridge. Apply warm along the entire length of the arm, wrapping it on top with a woolen scarf. Repeat the procedure until relief occurs;
• Salted cucumbers. Cut into cubes, add 3 crushed red pepper pods and pour 0.5 l of vodka. Insist in a dark place for 7 days, then strain and rub the hands and fingers with the resulting product;
• Marsh Ledum. Soak the plant tincture in apple cider vinegar for one week, the ratio of ingredients is 1: 3. Rub the problem areas 3 times a day until relief appears.

Among the traditional methods of treating numbness of the fingers, contrast baths can be noted. To do this, you need to take two containers and pour cold water into one of them, and hot water into the other (the temperature should be as high as possible, but so as not to get burned). Then you should alternately lower your hands into both containers with an interval of one minute. This procedure can be repeated 2-3 times a day.

Prevention of numbness of fingers

It is possible to prevent the development of the disease, and therefore numbness, if you take care of prevention. The following few tips will help reduce the risk of developing joint and vascular pathologies that lead to unpleasant consequences:

• Compliance with the principles of proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle;
• Refusal from bad habits - nicotine and alcohol;
• Preference for natural rather than synthetic fabrics when choosing gloves;

• 

  Taking regular breaks from work (every 40-45 minutes) and doing hand exercises to help boost circulation.

With a sedentary lifestyle, the risk of numbness in the fingertips increases, therefore, in the morning and throughout the day, it is necessary to perform the following set of physical exercises:

• After waking up, without getting out of bed, raise your fists up, and then clench them and unclench them 50 times. Then stretch your arms along the body and repeat the exercise again;
• Stand on tiptoes facing the wall, raise your arms up and stay in this position for a minute. Repeat the exercise 5-7 times a day;
• Press your palms together, cross your fingers and squeeze and unclench them about 30 times.

With these simple exercises, you can prevent numbness in your fingers. But if the symptom still appears, you should not hesitate or self-medicate, you need to consult a neurologist as soon as possible. Correct and timely treatment is the key to recovery and maintaining the mobility of the fingers.

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