Numbness of the fingers is a symptom that almost everyone has encountered. Tingling in the pillows of the fingers of the right hand can be felt with the wrong posture while sleeping or reading a book, prolonged work at the computer. It is recommended to undergo an examination if such a symptom often manifests itself for no apparent reason. Numbness of the fingers may indicate the development of a serious life-threatening disease.
Neuritis
If the fingertips on the right hand go numb, the causes may be associated with inflammation of the peripheral nerve of the limb. The pathological process is accompanied by pain, decreased sensitivity, muscle weakness. The disease can occur both on the right and on the left hand. Neuritis can be triggered by many factors. This is hypothermia, chronic infection, trauma. Often the disease develops as a complication of measles, flu, rubella, malaria, etc.
Most often, nerves are affected in the musculoskeletal canals. Due to the anatomical features of this site (it is very narrow), the likelihood of developing a tunnel syndrome increases.
Neuritis can develop against the background of compression of the trunk of the peripheral nerve. Finger pads in patients who are forced to walk on crutches are often numb. Unpleasant symptoms also often develop in musicians (pianists, cellists). In the process of professional activity, they have to regularly bend and straighten the brush, which leads to the development of neuritis.
Manifestations of neuritis depend on the severity of the disease. It also matters which particular nerve was affected (autonomic, sensory, motor). If the fingertip on the right hand is numb, it can speak precisely of the development of neuritis. Sensitivity decreases or disappears completely. The patient may complain of a tingling sensation in the area of āāthe fingertips. In more complex cases, active movements of the fingers and palm are violated, complete or partial paralysis occurs. If vegetative nerves are affected, cyanosis and swelling may appear on the skin.
Most often, at the initial stage, neuritis is manifested precisely by pain and numbness. However, when the first signs of the disease appear, not all patients are in a hurry to seek medical help, writing off the numbness of the fingers of the right hand at night, for example, overwork.
Common is carpal neuritis. As a result of the disease, the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel. Initially, the middle finger begins to periodically go numb, then unpleasant symptoms appear in other parts of the palm. If the therapy is not started in a timely manner, numbness becomes stable, and the mobility of the fingers decreases.
Neuritis cannot be ignored. Lack of therapy sooner or later leads to complete paresis of the affected area.
Disease treatment
A neurologist can prescribe the correct therapy only after an accurate diagnosis is made. The specialist conducts functional tests aimed at identifying motor disorders. Electrophysical methods (electromyography, electroneurography) are used to identify the degree of nerve damage.
The main goal of therapy is to eliminate the cause of neuritis. If the fingertip on the right hand is numb due to the presence of infection in the body, antibacterial agents are prescribed. Additionally, antiviral drugs (interferon derivatives) can be used. If the disease is caused by ischemia, vasoconstrictor drugs ("Eufillin", "Papaverine") are used. Vitamins of group B help restore the state of the nervous system faster. Analgesics are used to relieve pain attacks.
Physiotherapeutic procedures help restore the patientās normal health faster. UHF, pulse currents, novocaine electrophoresis are prescribed to the patient. Good results are shown by massage, physiotherapy exercises. If necessary, electrical stimulation of the affected muscles is performed.
Neuritis in young patients is quickly amenable to therapy with timely access to medical care. If there are concomitant diseases, while adequate treatment for neuritis is not carried out, the likelihood of paralysis increases.
Osteochondrosis
This is a chronic disease in which degenerative changes of the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs located between them occur. Depending on the location of the vertebral lesions, osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine is distinguished. Numbness of the pads of the fingers of the right hand is often observed precisely with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Osteochondrosis is manifested to one degree or another in all people. Degenerative changes in the vertebrae is a natural process associated with the aging of the body. Most often, unpleasant symptoms appear in the elderly. However, osteochondrosis can begin to manifest itself at a young age. The development of the disease is facilitated by factors such as overweight, poor posture, excessive physical activity, the need for a long time is in a sitting position. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine often develops among drivers, office workers.
If the tip of the ring finger of the right hand is numb, it is recommended to undergo a thorough examination by an orthopedist and a neurologist. The earlier osteochondrosis is detected, the less likely there are unpleasant complications (the formation of herniated discs).
If the index finger on the right hand is numb , this may indicate the development of osteochondrosis. However, only a specialist will make an accurate diagnosis on the basis of a thorough examination. Be sure to x-ray the spine in two projections. To exclude the intervertebral hernia and assess the condition of the spinal cord, magnetic resonance imaging is performed.
Osteochondrosis Treatment
If your fingers on your right hand are numb, what should I do? If such a symptom manifests itself regularly, you cannot postpone a visit to the doctor. In the event that the diagnosis of osteochondrosis is confirmed, the patient is shown peace. If vertebrae in the neck area are affected, a special collar of Shants is prescribed to the patient.
With osteochondrosis, not only does the fingertip numb on the right hand. The disease in the acute period is also accompanied by severe pain, which can not be tolerated without the use of medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - āDiclofenacā, āNimesulideā, āKetoralakā help restore the patient's normal health. With severe pain, analgesics can be used.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, physiotherapy, reflexology, massage are widely used. Good results are shown by physiotherapy exercises. Manual therapy also helps to restore well-being.
With significant compression of the spinal cord, the doctor may decide to have surgery. During the operation, the intervertebral hernia is removed and the spinal canal is restored. An affected spinal disc may be replaced with an implant.
Fibromyalgia
The disease has long been known in medical practice, but is quite rare. Syndrome appears only in 4% of the population. Unpleasant symptoms are mainly experienced by middle-aged women. Pathology is hereditary. Other factors, such as physical trauma, hormonal imbalance in the body, and infections (herpes, borreliosis) can provoke the development of the disease.
The main symptom of the disease is pain that spreads throughout the body. The patient cannot explain exactly where the discomfort is localized. The source of pain is fibro-muscular tissue. The lesion can be located anywhere on the body. If the tip of the thumb is numb on the right hand, this may indicate the localization of the pathological process in the forearm.
The disease is caused by constant hyper-excitation of neurons of the spinal cord. It was found that in patients with fibromyalgia in the blood, the concentration of serotonin was reduced. Such patients are prone to depression, are constantly depressed. Another sign of the pathological process is sleep disturbance. The patient cannot fall asleep normally even with severe fatigue, he often has to wake up at night. Even with prolonged sleep (more than 9 hours) there is a feeling of lack of sleep.
Numbness of fingers, discomfort that spreads throughout the body, lack of proper sleep, frequent migraines - all this indicates the development of fibromyalgia. Such symptoms lead to the fact that the patient significantly reduces the quality of life. The patient cannot fully perform simple tasks, refuses social contacts.
Disease treatment
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pathology. You can completely get rid of the disease. However, proper therapy can reduce pain, normalize the patientās sleep, improve his condition as a whole. If the fingertips on the right hand go numb, the reasons can be very different. It is possible that such a symptom is associated with fibromyalgia. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a qualified specialist. Initially, the doctor interviews the patient, clarifies what pains had to be encountered when unpleasant symptoms began to appear. It matters whether relatives had to deal with similar symptoms before.
The second stage of the examination is laboratory tests. It is important to exclude the presence of infection in the blood, as well as the rheumatic nature of the disease. Fibromyalgia can be confirmed by reducing the concentration of serotonin in the blood serum.
Additionally, the patient may be referred for magnetic resonance imaging. The study makes it possible to exclude intracranial hypertension, central nervous system infections, cerebral tumors, etc.
To restore the patientās normal state of health, an integrated approach is required. The therapy is carried out by a neurologist; drug and non-drug techniques are used. Good results are shown by cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. Correct exercises allow you to change the patientās thoughts, improve his mood, and relieve increased anxiety.
Physiotherapy exercises are mandatory. Exercises with numbness of the fingers of the right hand allow you to restore normal blood circulation in the affected area, relieve pain manifestations. Additionally, methods such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback therapy can be used.
It is impossible to normalize the patient's well-being without the use of medications. To relieve pain, local anesthetics (Lidocaine) and central analgesics are used. Additionally, antidepressants, anticonvulsants can be used.
Of great importance is prevention. Patients with chronic fibromyalgia should be regularly visited by a neurologist to conduct an examination. It is important to maintain a positive attitude, abandon bad habits.
Cardiovascular diseases
If the little finger on the right hand is numb, this may indicate a malfunction of the cardiovascular system. So, unpleasant symptoms can be observed with vegetative-vascular dystonia. This is a complex of functional disorders that are caused by a dysregulation of the tone of the autonomic nervous system. The pathological condition is accompanied by headaches, tachycardia, excessive sweating, dizziness. Patients may complain that the fingertip on the right hand (or left) periodically goes numb, limbs freeze.
In modern medicine, vegetative-vascular dystonia is not considered as an independent disease. A change in vascular tone can be observed against a background of arterial hypertension or hypotension. To identify the exact causes of the disease, the patient must undergo a comprehensive medical examination. Vegetative-vascular dystonia is a common pathology that is observed in 80% of the adult population. The first manifestations are observed already in adolescence. The peak of the disease, as a rule, occurs in 30-40 years.
If the little finger is numb on the right hand or other symptoms of the pathological process are observed, you can not postpone the visit to the doctor. Vegetative-vascular dystonia in the absence of treatment can lead to the development of complications. Many patients have to face vegetative crises, accompanied by severe headaches and panic attacks.
Diagnosis of vegetative-vascular dystonia is complicated due to the variety of symptoms of the pathological process. The patient is examined by a neurologist, cardiologist and endocrinologist. The disease should be differentiated with coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, neurodermatitis, etc.
Preference in choosing a treatment method is given to the non-drug approach. The patient needs to normalize the regimen of the day, abandon bad habits, establish nutrition, limit emotional stress.
Raynaud's Syndrome
If the middle finger on the right or left hand is numb, this may indicate a disorder of arterial blood supply to the extremities (Raynaud's syndrome develops). The pathological process can occur against the background of rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, blood diseases, neurological ailments. This is a secondary condition that can occur in both men and women. Of great importance is heredity. If Raynaud's syndrome is observed in parents, it is highly likely that the symptom will also appear in the child.
The main rule of Raynaud's syndrome is the sudden numbness of the fingers during hypothermia or excessive excitement. The pathological process often develops in smokers. Numbness of the fingers gives way to burning. At the end of the attack, the fingers turn red, the patient complains of a feeling of heat.
Due to the fact that Raynaud's syndrome is a secondary symptom, you can get rid of it only through the treatment of the underlying disease. It is also important to exclude provocative factors - smoking, hypothermia, excessive emotional stress. Good results are shown by non-pharmacological methods - physiotherapy, psychotherapy, reflexology.
During an attack, special exercises help normalize blood flow in the palms - rubbing the fingers, squeezing unclenching the palms.
Other causes of numbness in the fingers
Unpleasant symptoms can be triggered by several factors at once. Periodic numbness of the fingers of the right or left hand can talk about osteochondrosis, autoimmune diseases, malignant tumors, allergic manifestations, cardiovascular pathologies.
If the fingers are numb, this may also indicate a fungal infection. The disease is accompanied by other manifestations. Nail plates turn yellow, an unpleasant itching and peeling of the skin of the palms appears. You can cope with the infection only with the help of special antifungal agents - ointments and solutions for external use. In the most difficult cases, treatment is supplemented by the use of tablets.
What to do if your fingers go numb?
Reduced blood supply to the fingers is a symptom that can indicate many diseases. If an unpleasant sign is repeated regularly, you should make an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible.
How to treat numbness of the finger of the little finger of the right hand or other part of the palm? A special massage will help to quickly restore blood flow in the limbs even before contacting doctors. Rubbing the affected finger will temporarily help get rid of the feeling of numbness. Of great importance is also prevention. It is worth abandoning the use of tight clothing, limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages, have a good rest, and avoid stressful situations.