Pain and numbness in the fingers may indicate serious illness

12 April 2021

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3.5 out of 5

Numbness or hypoesthesia of the fingers is a rather unpleasant situation, which can be either a consequence of physiological reasons or a sign of various types of diseases. Therefore, if this symptom persists for an hour or more, and there is no improvement in rubbing your hands, clenching and unclenching your fists, you should consult a doctor. He will help you understand the reasons for its appearance and, if necessary, prescribe the necessary treatment. This will be the key to detecting pathology at an early stage of development and the success of therapy, and will also help to avoid aggravation of the situation and eliminate the risk of complications. After all, it is not so much the numbness of the fingers that is dangerous, although it can cause significant difficulties in performing everyday tasks, but the consequences of the lack of treatment for the diseases that provoked its occurrence.

Why do my fingers go numb?

Numbness and decreased sensitivity in the fingers may be a consequence of the development of neurological disorders and changes in their blood supply, which is caused by vascular pathologies. However, this can also occur as a result of such harmless factors as prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, which compresses the blood vessels supplying the fingers. This is often observed in the morning when a person has just woken up, especially if during sleep he put his hand under his head or threw them behind it. In such situations, numbness is usually combined with tingling in the fingers of varying strength, as well as a feeling of loss of control over the hands. But all these symptoms go away on their own with the restoration of normal quality of blood circulation in the hands, which takes no more than 10-15 minutes.

Also, one of the physiological causes of numbness in the fingers is prolonged exposure to the cold. As a result of prolonged exposure to low temperatures, blood vessels reflexively contract. This leads to a decrease in the rate of blood circulation in the fingers and the occurrence of characteristic numbness, and sometimes aching pain. This is no longer as harmless as sleeping in an uncomfortable position, since this already indicates the possibility of frostbite on the fingers. Therefore, in such situations, it is necessary to take measures to warm your hands.

But, if your fingers often go numb and this feeling persists for a long time, you should look for the reason in:

• neurological disorders (tunnel syndrome, polyneuropathy, plexitis, etc.);
• traumatic injuries;
• vascular disorders, etc.

Sometimes fingers go numb while taking medications such as Isoniazid, Vincristine, Metronidazole.

Neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome and polyneuropathy

As for neurological disorders, a fairly large number of different diseases can manifest themselves in a similar way. First of all, these are neuropathies of various origins. This term refers to damage or compression of one or more nerves of the peripheral nervous system, one of the first symptoms of which is the occurrence of a crawling sensation and numbness. But if in the early stages of development this is observed only periodically, then as the pathology progresses, the fingers become numb more often and longer, pain occurs, changes in the condition of the skin are observed, and the muscles lose tone.

With inflammation of the nerve, bruise, prolonged compression of the arm, for example, with the habit of leaning on the elbows at work, or the action of other isolated factors, local neuropathies or tunnel syndromes may occur. In such cases, in addition to numbness, pain, weakness or awkwardness may be observed when moving or grasping objects with your fingers. The nature of their manifestation directly depends on which of the nerve trunks is damaged. So:

• numbness in the 1st, 2nd and partially in the 3rd fingers is characteristic of damage to the radial nerve;
• numbness of the little finger and ring finger up to half on the palm side and the 4th, 5th and part of the 3rd fingers on the back side is observed with damage to the ulnar nerve;
• numbness of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and half of the 4th finger on the side of the palm and nails of 2-5 fingers is caused by damage to the median nerve;
• Numbness of 1-3 fingers and weakness when abducting the thumb are characteristic of the most common syndrome of the carpal or carpal tunnel, in which the median nerve is pinched in the flexor muscles of the wrist joint.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs in 1% of people and often occurs in those who have to work with a computer for long periods of time.

Fingers can also go numb as a result of the development of polyneuropathies, i.e., with simultaneous damage to a large number of nerves of the peripheral nervous system as a result of the development of certain systemic diseases. In such situations, numbness of the fingers on both hands is observed, and other symptoms characteristic of these pathologies may also appear.

This may be a consequence of diabetes mellitus, in which constantly high blood sugar levels lead to damage to nerve fibers, i.e. the development of diabetic neuropathy. But diabetes is more likely to affect the toes, although the hands can also suffer.

Fingers also become numb during development:

• chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy;
• Roussy-Lévy syndrome;
• alcoholism, which led to the emergence of so-called alcoholic polyneuropathy;
• Refsum's disease;
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS);
• Guillain-Barre syndrome;
• poisoning with chemicals and heavy metals.

Other neurological disorders

Some diseases can indirectly cause numbness in the fingers, but they are also characterized by a number of other symptoms, which makes it possible to differentiate them from neuropathies. These include:

• Cervical plexitis is a disorder that occurs when the nerves entering the cervical plexus are compressed by enlarged lymph nodes, cervical ribs or spinal structures as a result of the development of spondylosis, osteochondrosis, protrusion or intervertebral disc herniation of the cervical spine. It may also be the result of a birth injury or other damage to the cervical spine.
• Brachial plexitis is a neurological disorder that develops when the nerves that form the brachial plexus are pinched. It can occur as a result of injury to the collarbone, shoulder joint, the formation of an aneurysm (protrusion of the wall of a blood vessel), or a tumor. Sometimes brachial plexitis is observed in people against the background of dysmetabolic or infectious pathologies.
• Horner's syndrome is a neurological disorder that develops in response to damage to the sympathetic nerve fibers of the brachial plexus as a result of tumor formation, aortic aneurysm, thyroid dysfunction, and the development of multiple sclerosis.

Spinal diseases, in particular spondylosis, osteochondrosis, and intervertebral hernias, are among the most common causes of numbness in the fingers.

Injuries

Any bruises, fractures or other injuries to the hands, accompanied by severe swelling, can lead to short-term numbness of the fingers. This is a consequence of compression of the blood vessels by edematous tissue, which temporarily disrupts the blood supply. This can also be observed in the first days after applying a plaster cast to immobilize the injured arm and requires its prompt loosening.

It is extremely rare to observe the occurrence of myofascial compartment syndrome, which is characterized by numbness of the fingers and hands, severe pain that cannot be relieved with traditional non-narcotic drugs. This is a dangerous complication that requires immediate qualified medical care.

Also, numbness in the fingers immediately occurs after open wounds, during which the nerve trunks were damaged. But this is usually combined with noticeable limitations in mobility.

Patients who have suffered traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries often complain that their fingers go numb. At the same time, they have numbness constantly.

Vascular disorders

One of the possible causes of numbness may be hypertension, especially if it occurs without treatment. In such situations, the fingers usually go numb due to the development of swelling of the hands, which is combined with:

• redness of the face;
• increased sweating;
• long-term pain in the heart area.

Another cause of hypoesthesia can be anemia, i.e. a condition in which the number of red blood cells in the blood sharply decreases, and therefore the level of hemoglobin drops. Since this compound is responsible for transporting oxygen to cells, when it is deficient, signs of oxygen starvation are observed:

• feeling of weakness;
• increased fatigue;
• headache;
• decreased appetite;
• increased heart rate;
• shortness of breath even with minor physical exertion;
• decreased concentration;
• dizziness up to loss of consciousness.

Also, numbness in the fingers can be a consequence of a stroke.

Numbness in the fingers is also characteristic of Raynaud's syndrome. This is the name for a disorder in which there is a violation of arterial circulation in the 2nd and 4th fingers under the influence of cold or stress. It is characterized by a paroxysmal course with the initial appearance of a feeling of numbness, coldness and blueness of the fingers, which indicates a decrease in the intensity of blood circulation in them. Then these sensations are replaced by distension, aching pain and burning. When blood circulation is restored and, accordingly, the attack ends, a strong feeling of heat appears in the fingers, and they turn sharply red.

Raynaud's syndrome may be a sign of the development of diseases such as:

• rheumatoid arthritis;
• scleroderma;
• systemic lupus erythematosus;
• damage to the sympathetic ganglia or neurovascular bundles;
• some endocrine diseases;
• blood pathologies.

Less commonly, it occurs against the background of vibration disease and frequent hypothermia.

Emergency

You need to pay attention to numbness in your hand, especially if it happens suddenly. This may be a signal of a dangerous illness - thrombosis, stroke or heart attack. There are signs that may indicate the likelihood of these diseases:

• The numbness is constantly increasing.
• The pain in the arm intensifies.
• Increases blood pressure.
• Speech is impaired.
• Facial asymmetry.
• Paralysis.
• Pain radiating to the jaw and back.
• Feeling of tightness in the chest.
• Dyspnea.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Diagnostics

Thus, there are quite a lot of diseases that can provoke hypoesthesia of the fingers. Therefore, if this symptom occurs regularly and persists for a long time, you should definitely consult a neurologist. The doctor will conduct a survey and examination of the patient, during which he will assess the condition of the skin, pulse strength, reflexes and conduct certain neurological tests to detect possible motor disorders. But to make an accurate diagnosis, this data is not enough. Therefore, depending on the detected signs, patients may be prescribed one or another diagnostic procedure from the following:

• electromyography and electroneurography - used to assess the degree and extent of damage to nerve trunks;
• X-ray or CT - used to detect deformities of the bones of the hands, tumors;
• angiography is a method used to assess the quality of blood circulation in the area of ​​interest, in particular for diagnosing Raynaud's syndrome;
• Dopplerography of the vessels of the neck and head - is prescribed to detect cerebral circulation disorders and vascular pathologies;
• MRI is used to detect minute changes in soft tissue structures, the brain, and intervertebral discs.

A set of laboratory tests is also often prescribed, the results of which help to identify systemic diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus, anemia, endocrine disorders, rheumatoid diseases, etc.

How to determine the true cause?

Initially, a patient with numbness of the finger is examined by a neurologist and, based on the clinical picture, determines the necessary list of examinations.

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The Clinic of Professor Kinzersky has an extensive diagnostic base in all possible areas to quickly and accurately determine a patient’s diagnosis.
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The gold standard for most carpal tunnel syndromes is electromyography (EMG). Based on the results of the study, the doctor determines how much the function of a particular nerve is reduced.

Ultrasound of peripheral nerves is used to assess structural changes in nerves .

elastometry technology on the AIXPLORER V6 ultrasound device made it possible to measure the pressure in the tunnel area (it is significantly increased compared to the norm) and control it during treatment.

Treatment

For each patient, treatment is developed individually based on diagnostic results and detected diseases. In most cases, they begin by prescribing conservative therapy appropriate to the situation. It may include medication, physical therapy and exercise therapy.

Drug treatment may include drugs from different groups. They are selected based on the causes of numbness in the fingers, but they must take into account concomitant diseases, age and other characteristics of the patient. Typically used:

• NSAIDs - prescribed during an exacerbation of neuropathy to reduce the intensity of pain and eliminate swelling of soft tissues;
• corticosteroids - indicated for severe inflammatory processes, as well as complex neuropathy;
• B vitamins - used to improve the transmission of bioelectric impulses along nerve trunks;
• antiplatelet agents - prescribed to reduce blood viscosity and improve blood circulation;
• calcium antagonists - used to increase the lumen of blood vessels, which is indicated for Raynaud's syndrome;

To increase the effectiveness of drug treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures are often used. The most effective for neurological disorders are:

• electrophoresis;
• phonophoresis;
• laser therapy;
• UHF;
• electromyostimulation;
• applications with paraffin;
• ozocrete treatment;
• mud therapy.

To eliminate numbness, an individually developed complex of exercise therapy must be prescribed. It helps to develop the joints of the hands, activate blood circulation and relieve muscle tension. As a result, tissue trophism and innervation of the fingers improves. But exercise therapy should be done systematically, devoting the proper amount of time to gymnastics every day.

Diseases that cause numbness

Today, doctors identify numerous diseases, one of the signs of which is a feeling of numbness in the little finger on the left hand. Chronic compression or microtraumatization of peripheral nerve fibers in the corresponding channels occurs due to regular physical strain caused by movements requiring activation of fine motor skills.

Painful compression of the branches of the ulnar nerve during neuritis and cervical osteochondrosis occurs due to a disorder of the innervation of the fibers that provide sensitivity to the ring and little fingers. In such situations, patients complain about regular numbness of the little finger.

Many people fear this syndrome, which is a serious sign of a heart and blood vessel disorder. In recent years, this category of diseases is getting younger every day. The likelihood of worsening ischemic disorders and the appearance of problems with heart function increases in people whose work activity is caused by increased psycho-emotional stress and stressful situations.

Often, the innervation of painful impulses in the hand and a feeling of numbness in the little finger are the main signs of a latently developing heart attack. Correct diagnosis can put everything in its place. It is not recommended to ignore such signs. If the patient is not helped in a timely manner, serious complications and even death may occur.

Performing radiography and CT, MRI at the location of the cervical vertebrae makes it possible to determine another common cause of numbness in the fingers, degenerative transformations in the vertebrae, and osteochondrosis.

When is surgery needed?

There are a number of situations when conservative therapy does not allow one to get rid of the numbness in the fingers and other symptoms that bothers the patient, or the disease that provokes it poses a serious threat to the life and health of a person. In such cases, patients are recommended to undergo surgical intervention, the nature of which directly depends on the type of pathology detected.

So, the operation could consist of:

• removal of peripheral nerve tumors;
• neurolysis;
• decompression of compressed nerve structures;
• performing nerve plastic surgery for traumatic injuries;
• removal of cervical ribs;
• removal of aneurysms;
• removal of intervertebral hernias, etc.

Peripheral nerve tumor removal

This operation is required when benign or malignant tumors are detected that compress the peripheral nerve trunks. In the first case, it can be carried out by blunt desquamation from a capsule formed by connective tissue. Sometimes it becomes necessary to remove the damaged nerve fragment, after which it is repaired or sutured.

If fingers become numb as a result of the formation of neurofibromas, especially with multiple neurofibromatosis, surgical intervention is indicated only in cases where this benign neoplasm compresses the nerve trunk. This is due to the fact that the removal of one of the tumors can become an impetus for the formation of others, which can complicate the patient’s condition.

When diagnosing cancerous tumors, the operation involves removing the entire tumor, including healthy tissue and nearby lymph nodes. After this, patients are prescribed radiation therapy.

Neurolysis

Neurolysis or release of the nerve from the surrounding connective tissue scar tissue is used for:

• injuries of various types that caused nerve damage;
• compression of the nerve trunk by scar tissue;
• compression of the nerve by an aneurysm;
• failure of the nerve suture.

The goal of the operation is to restore normal nerve conduction. Therefore, it can act as a separate type of surgical intervention, or be only one of its stages.

Decompression of nerve trunks

This operation is performed when carpal tunnel syndrome develops as a result of compression of the nerve in the musculoskeletal canal of the wrist, etc. It is used when pain in the hand persists and there is a significant risk of developing muscle atrophy. The essence of this type of surgical intervention is to dissect the tissue that is compressing the nerve, and sometimes to move the nerve itself, followed by restoration of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal canal.

Plastic surgery and suture of nerve trunks

A nerve suture or neurorhaphy is required when the nerve trunk is ruptured as a result of a traumatic factor or after resection of its fragment during surgery. The essence of the method is the precise comparison of cross sections of the dissected nerve, followed by suturing its sheath or individual bundles.

Nerve repair is indicated when it is impossible to apply a suture due to the remote location of the remaining ends. It consists of using grafts taken from the patient’s other superficial nerves innervating the skin and using them to connect the remaining fragments of the injured nerve trunk. The autograft is fixed with sutures.

Removal of cervical ribs

If the fingers become numb due to the presence of an additional rib at the cervical vertebra, it is recommended to remove it in parts, but entirely along with the periosteum. For this purpose special forceps are used.

Aneurysm removal

The operation can be performed using different techniques, the choice of which directly depends on the location of the aneurysm:

• installation of a vascular stent or coil;
• applying a clip at the base of the aneurysm neck.

Removal of intervertebral hernias

Operations of this type are performed when fingers become numb as a result of the formation of protrusions or hernias in the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine. They can be carried out in different ways, including by:

• hydroplastics;
• nucleoplasty;
• endoscopic hernia removal;
• microsurgical operation.

In all cases, by removing the protrusion of the disc, decompression of the spinal root responsible for the innervation of the arm and fingers is carried out.

Thus, numbness of the fingers can be either a harmless situation, or be a consequence of an injury, or indicate the development of quite dangerous diseases, including the spine. Therefore, when this symptom appears, it is important not to hesitate and immediately contact a neurologist or spinal surgeon.

Expert advice

If your hand begins to go numb, you should pay attention to your lifestyle and habits. Try to move as much as possible, climb the stairs on foot, without an elevator.

Be sure to do exercises in the morning. You can increase physical activity in other ways, for example, through dancing.

Provide your body with the microelements, vitamins and minerals necessary for its proper functioning. Eat more fruits and vegetables, and periodically take special multivitamin complexes.

Try to always remain calm, no matter the situation. By stopping worrying and getting nervous over trifles, you will soon feel better.

Other factors

The above mentioned disorders occur frequently. Less commonly, diagnostic examinations identify other causes of numbness in the little fingers:

• The neoplasms are located in the area of ​​the shoulder girdles and compress nerve and vascular bundles.
• Infection. For example, after herpes in a complex form, the left limb may become numb.
• Alcoholic drinks and smoking cause ischemia and numbness in the left little finger, then goosebumps and pain are felt, and the numbness spreads to other parts of the body.
• Autoimmune disorders in certain situations may indicate paresthesia in the little finger area.
• Holding your hand in a constant position for a long time. Numbness of the fingers in this situation will indicate trophic disorders.
• Atherosclerotic plaques in the main vessels in narrow branches block blood flow and prevent the saturation of cells with beneficial microelements. Everything is defined as 2-3 degrees of negative disorder.

Medicines

Often, recipes are created using anti-inflammatory drugs that promote better conduction of nerve fibers to saturate cellular structures with oxygen.

Pentoxifyline is considered the most popular medication among doctors. The drug is endowed with properties due to which the body is well saturated with oxygen, helps eliminate pain symptoms, cramps, and numbness. You need to take 2 tablets 2 times a day after meals, wash them down with liquid. Only 4% is excreted through the intestines or kidneys. A full course of therapy ranges from 10 days to 2 weeks.

Self-medication for such health problems is unacceptable. Only qualified specialists prescribe suitable therapeutic techniques. Otherwise, you can doom yourself to complex problems with the musculoskeletal system. When numbness in the little finger is caused by a lack of mobility or numbness in the arm, you need to stretch after getting out of bed, raise your arms up and stretch them to the sides. In this case, it is necessary to bend and straighten your fingers, ring or little finger.

If numbness occurs in the head, face, arms or legs, it is imperative to find out the cause of the pathology.

After this, you need to spread your arms along the body, while clench and unclench your fists. You need to rise on your toes, raise your arms above your head, and try to stand in this position for about 2 minutes.

Mild paresthesia

Slight numbness of the fingers on the left hand is detected in patients of different age categories. In this situation, it is necessary to properly rub your finger or hand; rubbing the shoulder joints is excellent. Elementary gymnastics helps eliminate numbness.

When paresthesia occurs during work, you will have to take a break and do a few exercises. When osteochondrosis develops, you need to constantly do exercises, go for a massage, and get examined by doctors.

When atherosclerosis, diabetes, and circulatory system disorders are present, there is no need to practice self-medication. You should contact a specialist if numbness occurs frequently.

Diagnostic procedures

When contacting doctors, it is necessary to exclude preconditions for a stroke and take preventive measures. For this purpose, the doctor prescribes MRI, X-ray, CT and EEG. When the diagnosis is not confirmed and pathological processes in other systems are excluded, doctors identify abnormalities in the functioning of the limbs and the spine.

To determine a diagnosis that facilitates proper therapy, a specialist will have to restore a full picture of the disorder and determine the causes of its occurrence. Various procedures and tests may be used for this purpose.

A complete blood test can reveal the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

What does the electrocardiography procedure consist of:

• X-ray of the spine in the problem area.

• Testing the functioning of muscles and nerve tissues using electroneuromyography
• CT scan to determine disorders of the circulatory system.

• For a detailed diagnosis, you will have to contact highly specialized doctors such as a cardiologist or neurologist.

Choosing a qualified doctor

When a person notices numbness in his left hand or finger, it is undesirable to try to eliminate such a disorder on his own. You need to see a doctor. There is a possibility of ischemic or other disorders of the circulatory system. Therefore, the first specialist you need to contact will be a cardiologist. Only he will be able to identify probable heart pathologies and select appropriate methods for prevention in order to reduce the likelihood of possible complications.

After your visit to the cardiologist, you will have to work with a neurologist. This is required to determine the real cause of numbness and eliminate the spinal disorder.

If we consider treatment methods, they directly determine the causes of numbness. When a finger goes numb due to a spinal disorder, you will have to do a massage, choose appropriate physiotherapeutic techniques, medications that help eliminate metabolic problems and strengthen cartilage tissue.