If the left arm is often numb, this condition is accompanied by physical discomfort and emotional depression. The main reason for this condition is compression of the nerve endings when changing the position of the body. In case of muscle relaxation, numbness disappears. But in some cases, the left hand goes numb for other reasons.
The most common causes of numbness
Discomfort can be caused by prolonged sitting with arms thrown to the back of the chair. This situation helps to squeeze blood vessels and nerve endings, which interferes with the normal blood flow of the limb.
The left hand is numb due to prolonged wearing on the shoulder of a heavy backpack or bag, as well as due to wearing uncomfortable and tight clothes. The limb may become numb during exercise, during hard work, when hands need to be raised above the level of the heart. In addition, the hands lose their sensitivity and become numb in cold weather due to narrowing of blood vessels. Very often, a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle becomes the cause of numbness. Therefore, in order to improve the supply of blood vessels, try to walk more and do regular exercises.
Sometimes, in order for numbness to go away, it is enough to change the position of the body and do several exercises to restore blood supply to the limbs. If the body position is incorrect, the hand not only loses its sensitivity, but can also become colder. For example, your left hand often goes numb if you sleep on your stomach with your hand under you.
Diseases that cause numbness of the upper limbs
If the left arm is numb, this may indicate the presence of a disease. In such a situation, it is worth contacting a specialist who will prescribe a medical examination. You will have to donate blood for sugar to determine if you have diabetes. An x-ray is also prescribed to study the possible development of arthritis or if injury is suspected.
Cervical osteochondrosis is one of the diseases in which the left arm is numb, and the leg may also lose sensitivity. There is a lesion of the cervical disc of the spine, it causes a nerve clamp. Osteochondrosis can occur as a result of a hernia of the spinal disc or due to degenerative changes in the joint. The disease causes pain, which is aggravated by turning the neck, shoulders and arm movements.
Spondylosis of the cervical spine is characterized by the growth of osteophytes along the edges of the spine. The pain is concentrated in the occipital region and intensifies with the movement of the shoulders, arms and head.
Ladder muscle syndrome can also cause limb numbness. With this syndrome, the arteries under the clavicle and the lower roots of the brachial plexus are compressed. Moreover, not only does the left hand go numb, it becomes weak and partially loses sensitivity.
Various injuries of the brachial plexus: muscle breaks, dislocations, sprains, etc. often also cause numbness of the extremities, including the left arm.
Numbness treatment
If the cause of discomfort is the manifestation of arthritis or osteochondrosis, then you need to deal with the treatment of these diseases. Doctors usually prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, etc. In some cases, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment with antidepressants. As an addition to treatment, it is worth doing morning exercises to prevent numbness of the limbs. To do this, every morning, with arms extended upward, unclench and squeeze your fingers. The exercise must be repeated at least 70-80 times. Then lower your hands down and again continue to unclench and squeeze your fingers as many more times.
If you have neuralgia or sciatica, then grated fresh horseradish roots will help, which should be applied to the affected area. Baths from young aspen bark are also effective in treating these diseases. Include ginger powder in your diet, which perfectly strengthens blood vessels and improves blood circulation.
But all of the above are options for helping your body. To know exactly the cause of numbness of the hand, you need to contact a neurologist. The doctor will prescribe an examination and, depending on the diagnosis, will prescribe the necessary treatment.