If you have occasional finger numbness then it's completely abnormal. But if it's sudden, it means it's an emergency situation, like having a stroke.If so, call your doctor immediately.
However, most cases of finger numbness usually are not an emergency. It's a sign there's a problem with one of the nerves in your hand and fingers.
Nearly everyone will feel numbness in their fingers at some point in their lives. And they can generally trace the numbness back to a recent trauma. The trauma could be as simple as lifting something heavy, or banging your arm against a wall or furniture. Or it could mean you simply slept on your hand or arm the wrong way.
Butchronicfinger numbness, or numbness that comes and goes often, means something else. It indicates one or more of the nerves in your hand and fingers are damaged. So what causes the nerve damage that leads to finger numbness?
The following is a list of the top 3 most common causes of finger numbness that doctors see, according to the
National Institutes of Health. Simple and effective remedies to deal with these 3 causes are provided at the end of this article.
All finger numbness is due to nerve damage
All of the causes of finger numbness are a result of nerve damage orneuropathy. The damage can be minor or may signal a more severe condition.
The two nerves in the hand that usually cause finger numbness are theulnar nerve andmedian nerve. Normally, these nerves carry sensations from the fingers to the brain. But when they're damaged, they produceparesthesia (numbness or tingling sensation).
Note that paresthesia can result from damage to one or both of these nerves. And the damage can occur anywhere along the nerve's path. The diagram below illustrates these paths, and where they cause hand or finger numbness.
Neuropathy in these nerves can be caused by various factors. They can be internal (like a disease) or external (like a trauma). The 3 most common factors, discussed in detail below, are:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Your sleeping position
1. Finger numbness caused bycarpal tunnel syndrome
The leading cause of finger numbness (usually along with pain and weakness) iscarpal tunnel syndrome. Over 8 million cases of this condition are reported each year.
Most estimates put carpal tunnel syndrome's prevalence at about 5% of the adult population. That's nearly 17 million Americans. Obviously, this is a very common disorder, and it's symptoms can be quite severe.
Take this simple self-test to see if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a neuropathy (or damage) of themedian nerveat the wrist joint. Inflamed tendons (exacerbated by overuse) swell and and expand. This swelling pushes on the adjacent median nerve and crushes it.
This crushing is the reason the median nerve reacts and results in feeling hand or finger numbness, severe pain, tingling, burning, and/orweakness. Clumsiness, dropping things, and difficulty manipulating small objects (buttons, shoelaces, coins) often occurs. If left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can result in muscle wasting in the hand. That means losing most of your hand's normal functions.
However, most patients will see symptoms resolve within a month just with simple rest. But more than half of patients will see their symptoms worsen without additional treatment.
You're at highest risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome if you:
- Arefemale
- Have afamily history of the disorder
- Are pregnant
- Haverheumatoid arthritis
- Are under
emotional stress
2. Finger numbness caused bycubital tunnel syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in many ways. It occurs when theulnar nerve is compressed, stretched, or irritated where it crosses the elbow joint. While cubital tunnel syndrome is only half as common as carpal tunnel syndrome, it's still a leading cause of finger numbness andpain.
Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the area around the ulnar nerve (at the elbow joint) becomes trapped by fibrous adhesions. Therefore, rather than moving freely with elbow joint's movement, the ulnar nerve is trapped in one place. This stretches or compresses the nerve as the elbow moves. The result is nerve damage (neuropathy).
The resulting symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome are hand and pinky finger numbness, pain, and tingling. Hand weakness can also occur, as can loss of dexterity.
Diminished sensation and fine motor control may occur. That means the person tends to drop objects or have difficulty in handling small objects. When left untreated, hand muscle wasting and permanent nerve damage will occur.
Unlike carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome affects more men than women. People most commonly affected are those who have jobs requiring repetitive movement of the elbow or a prolonged bent elbow. Examples are such jobs are:
- Using power tools, like drills
- Holding a phone
- Extensive computer work
- House painting
- Fine arts painting
- Playing a musical instrument
- Driving a car or truck
3. Finger numbness caused byyour sleeping position
Amazingly, the third most common cause of finger numbness ishow you sleep! According to theSleep Foundation, there are 3 sleep positions that can be detrimental to your hands and cause numbness.
What's common to all of them is that each position results in crushing (or "compression") of one or both of the nerves in your hand. Thereforethe way you sleep can be causing your finger numbness.
Head-cradling position
Bent wrist
Elbow pressing
Remedies for finger numbness
How to treat finger numbness due to carpal tunnel syndrome
If your finger numbness is due to carpal tunnel syndrome, there are 4 key treatments you should know about. Happily, none of these treatments requiresurgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.
The treatments most often recommended by doctors and therapists (and are the first line of defense) are collectively known as B.R.E.M. It stands forBrace, Rest, Exercise, and Massage.
There are 4 separate parts of B.R.E.M. therapy. If your symptoms are mild, then one individual B.R.E.M. component (like night bracing) may be sufficient to eliminate symptoms.But if your carpal tunnel symptoms are severe, you will likely need to perform all 4 components simultaneously.
How to treat finger numbness due to cubital tunnel syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome is not as difficult to treat as carpal tunnel syndrome. In most cases, the following simple techniques will make symptoms disappear in 1-2 weeks.
Note that severe cases of cubital tunnel will need more attention and a more extensive regimen of these treatments. This is especially true of thecubital tunnel syndrome exercises.
How to make sleep adjustments to relieve finger numbness
If your finger numbness is due to your sleeping position, then modify how you sleep. This is a simple fix that anybody can do. There are 3 basic ways to accomplish this: elbow compression, nighty splinting, and sleep training.
Conclusion
Doctors usually find there are 3 primary causes of finger numbness. They are carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and your sleeping position. In each case, the underlying cause of the numbness is due to crushing either the median or ulnar nerve in the hand, wrist or elbow. By far, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most serious of these conditions. It's also the most difficult to treat. Finger numbness caused by cubital tunnel syndrome and sleeping position can be relieved with minor adjustments, along with other simple therapies.