The hand is numb and does not go away - what should I do? Reasons and treatment

Almost every person had to experience such a state when this or that part of his body after being in an uncomfortable position for a long time lost its sensitivity.

However, people often complain that their hand was numb, and before that it was not at all in an uncomfortable position. How dangerous is this phenomenon? Why do my hands go numb? Is it necessary to rush to the doctor for the appointment of treatment?

general information

Numbness of the hand means the loss of sensitivity of either this entire limb, or any part of it. A similar condition can be observed in people of different ages. Most often, it occurs at night during rest. But sometimes people complain that this unpleasant phenomenon appears in them during the daytime.

Characteristic symptoms

Numbness of the hands as such is not a pathology at all. However, with frequent recurrence of such a discomfort phenomenon, you should still consult a doctor. After all, a decrease in the sensitivity of the hands or its loss can serve as one of the symptoms of a dangerous disease. Not paying attention to this condition is very difficult. It is accompanied by unpleasant sensations, soreness, as well as pinching.

image of goosebumps

A pathological condition develops in stages. In most cases, the hand goes numb in the area of ​​the fingers, hand, elbow or forearm. At this time, the person feels a slight tingling sensation and he has a feeling of moving goosebumps. Sometimes tactility changes. There is pain, which can be from mild to pronounced. There is a false sensation of cold. Sometimes tremor of the upper extremities occurs.

Varieties

Numbness of the hands, which in medicine is called paresthesia, is divided into two groups, depending on the causes of its occurrence. The first of these includes temporary or passing factors. They are the wrong way of life, bad habits, physical phenomena (squeezing, shock, etc.). What if a hand is numb for one of these reasons? To eliminate the uncomfortable state, it is enough to exclude the factors that provoked it. Paresthesia in this case will pass by itself.

The second group of factors includes chronic ones. In this case, numbness of the hands occurs in connection with the pathology from which the person suffers for a long period of time. In such cases, paresthesia bothers the patient quite often and can progress.

Time factors

Consider the most harmless causes of numbness in the hands.

girl sleeping with hands behind her head

They are not associated with any disease and do not require any treatment:

  1. Uncomfortable sleep. Numbness of the hands in a dream often occurs due to improper or uncomfortable body position. The main reason for this is a malfunction in the blood supply system. It is possible when a person puts his hands behind his head, hides them under a pillow or under his cheek. If for this reason your hands are numb, what should I do? In the absence of any pathological changes in the state of human health, he should purchase for himself an orthopedic mattress, as well as a pillow. They will solve the emerging problem. The fact is that these bedding attributes are designed in such a way that they can immediately repeat the shape of the body of a person in a horizontal position. At the same time, they keep the spine relaxed and do not allow constriction of blood vessels and nerve endings. You will have to take care of the position of the hands. They can not be thrown back over the head. Indeed, during rest, our heart does not work so actively and it is difficult for him to deliver blood to the vessels of the hands.
  2. Tight clothes. Why do my hands go numb? At night, this can happen due to the fact that a person sleeps in tight, uncomfortable clothes with tight cuffs, or maybe he doesn’t remove various compressive objects (bracelets and rings) from his limbs. All this leads to obstruction of blood flow. Solving the problem in this case is quite simple. It is enough to change the nightgown or pajamas to a more spacious one. It is also necessary to take off all jewelry.
  3. Sleep on an uncomfortable pillow. If this bed accessory is too large or stiff, it will cause an excess of the spine. Such a position of his, in turn, will lead to the fact that blood will begin to flow poorly to all limbs. This will be expressed in unpleasant sensations that can occur in the hands. In the event that a similar situation is repeated periodically, the pillow will have to be replaced with a softer one. Better if it will be orthopedic. Thus, it will be possible to solve the problem right away.
  4. Bad habits. Difficulty in blood circulation, causing numbness of the hands, also occurs when an hour before bedtime a person is not averse to drinking a cup of strong coffee or drinking a significant amount of liquid. This applies to both salty and spicy foods. Due to the accumulation of fluid in the tissues, both the left and right hands can become numb. Alcohol is also capable of provoking a similar problem. Eliminate the unpleasant phenomenon will allow balanced, proper nutrition and compliance with the basic norms of a healthy lifestyle.
  5. Pregnancy. The hand is numb and does not pass a week or even a longer period - such complaints often come from women who are expecting a baby. This period is quite difficult for the body of the future mother. On average, a woman’s weight increases by 16-20 kg over 9 months of bearing a child. This significantly increases the load on the joints and blood vessels. The deterioration of blood circulation leads to numbness of the limbs. The resulting swelling of the tissues provokes this problem. It compresses small capillaries, which also leads to a loss of sensitivity. Such a symptom will pass on its own after the baby is born. If for a long time the hand is numb and does not go away, what should a woman do to reduce discomfort? In this case, she needs to contact a gynecologist. The specialist will prescribe the necessary treatment and give recommendations on the correct behavior during pregnancy.
  6. Tunnel Syndrome. A similar phenomenon most often occurs in women who have reached the age of 40, whose profession is associated with the constant tension of the hands in the hands. Paresthesia can bother them while working at a computer, sewing equipment, playing musical instruments or other monotonous work. Specialists call this phenomenon "pianist syndrome." It also appears in men who are driving a vehicle for a long time. The cause of the unpleasant symptoms is swelling or pinching of the nerve, which is responsible for the mobility of the fingers and hands, as well as for their sensitivity. The characteristic symptoms of this condition are numbness of the little finger and thumb. After some time, sensitivity is lost in the entire brush. A similar condition occurs, as a rule, at night and interrupts sleep. In the event that such sensations do not occur particularly often and are not accompanied by severe pain, they can be eliminated with a decrease in the load on the hands and regular exercise for the joints.

Chronic factors

If the arm is numb and does not go away, the reasons may lie in the development of various diseases. But here there are some nuances. With some pathologies, both upper limbs go numb at once. But there are also such ailments when uncomfortable sensations are observed only in one of them.

woman grabbed her right hand

If the left arm is numb and does not go away, then this phenomenon indicates a malfunction in the cardiovascular system. The occurrence of such a symptom indicates the likelihood of pathologies of the joints and heart. If the left arm is numb and does not go away, then it should be borne in mind that this condition is often a precursor to strokes or heart attacks. That is why it cannot be ignored.

If the right arm is numb and does not go away, the causes of this condition may lie in the development of osteochondrosis or arthritis. A similar condition may also appear before a stroke or heart attack.

Consider the most common pathologies, one of the symptoms of which is paresthesia.

Cervical osteochondrosis

What can mean a phenomenon when the right or left hand is numb and does not pass? The reasons for the development of this symptom often become diseases of the spine, in particular, cervical osteochondrosis. The compression of the roots of the spinal cord, which occurs in the region of the vertebrae in the C3-C5 range, causes discomfort. They are responsible for the sensitivity in the upper limbs.

If the left or right hand is numb and does not go away, then you need to contact a specialist for a diagnosis. After all, the clinical manifestation of pathology in each person can have its own characteristics. However, with cervical osteochondrosis, hands are numb in almost all patients. In most cases, the sensation of goosebumps and tingling appears with a long stay of the patient in one position. Numbness of the hands occurs after the body was in one of the following positions:

  • the head thrown back (in this case, the spinal roots begin to put pressure on the blood vessels);
  • arms crossed on the chest (this position leads to the experience of blood vessels that are located in the upper limbs, and this becomes the reason that nutrients cease to flow to them and, as a result, numbness appears);
  • bent back;
  • the location of the arms above the head (most often this occurs during sleep).

In which zone the localization of uncomfortable sensations will be observed, largely depends on the type of the root that has been pinched. Of great importance is the place of occurrence of the disease.

So, if the whole hand is numb and does not go away, then the reasons here may lie in pinching 3-5 vertebrae. But sometimes the patient complains that only three fingers are numb. In this case, the place of occurrence of the disease is 6 vertebra. And if the third or fifth finger is numb (middle, ring, and also little fingers)? In this case, the disease affects the 7 vertebra.

Vegetative dystonia

A numb arm does not go through? The reason for this may be the VVD, which is characterized by a violation of blood supply in the peripheral tissues. With this pathology, the normal functioning of the vessels is lost, which leads to numbness of the upper limbs.

If the patient suffers from VVD, then he can observe the following symptoms:

  • numbness of both hands - either alternately or with varying degrees of intensity;
  • sensation of goosebumps;
  • feeling of alienation of the hands;
  • uncertainty and lack of fluidity;
  • poor sensitivity;
  • trembling that occurs at your fingertips.

Hands with VSD may well be cold. The whole body of the patient is trembling. Periodically, in the hands, as well as in the face, a person feels heat or chills.

girl is drinking tea

Why is the hand numb and does not let go during the IRR? Tingling or numbness in the limbs is caused by circulatory disorders. With spasms of blood vessels, tissue nutrition is disturbed. This leads to the fact that the hands become numb, freeze and tingle. A person becomes chilly, even if he is in a warm room. He is trying to help himself with hot tea, but it only works for a short time. After the vascular system malfunctions, his hands again begin to freeze and become numb.

Diabetes

Why is my hand numb and does not go away? The cause of this phenomenon is often diabetes. An increase in blood sugar leads to impaired blood circulation. A similar failure appears with a constant violation of the nutrition of blood vessels and an increase in the concentration of sugar in the body. Against this background, there is a decrease in the sensitivity of the limbs.

The main provoking factors that a numb hand does not go through are:

  1. Angiopathy. In case of vascular damage, their deformation occurs. Similar changes in the body of a diabetic occur gradually. Their main reason is an imbalance in sugar levels.
  2. Diseases of the nervous system. They also occur against the background of elevated sugar levels.

Right, left, or both at once? These symptoms may indicate the development of diabetes, if accompanied by dry mouth, muscle weakness, swelling of the hands and decreased vision.

Raynaud's Syndrome

Your hand is numb and does not go away? If the localization of discomfort is observed only in the fingers, then this may indicate the development of Raynaud's syndrome. Most often, this problem affects people whose hands are constantly in contact with cold water, or those who do not want to wear gloves even in the worst frosts. At the same time, complaints are received from them that the fingers on the hand are numb and the pain does not go away in them.

Raynaud's disease

How to recognize the cause of this pathological condition? Sick fingers in people suffering from Raynaud's syndrome outwardly differ from healthy ones. At the slightest interaction with something cold or with a nervous breakdown, they immediately turn white. This type of numbness of the hands is associated with disorders that are observed in the blood supply to the capillaries of the palms and fingers.

Not only hypothermia can contribute to the occurrence of Raynaud's disease. The cause of the development of pathology is constant stress, hereditary factors, as well as alcohol abuse. Constant overwork, infectious ailments, as well as excessive tanning provoke the disease.

Often that part of the arm is numb and does not pass, pianists and operators complain, whose work is concluded in computer typing. These people most often suffer from Raynaud's disease. The main localization of discomfort becomes one middle finger or two at once (the third and fourth). They are numb in the first place. But if the disease is not treated, then it can spread to the chin, ears and nose.

Cholecystitis

A numb hand in a dream and does not pass? If this happened with the right upper limb, then in this case, the development of cholecystitis can be suspected. At the same time, the pathology is manifested by pains in the joint area of ​​the second right rib with the sternum, which are observed upon palpation.

This reason is most likely if bitterness arises in the mouth after taking spicy and fried foods.

Angina pectoris

Your hand is numb after sleep and does not go away? If paresthesia affects the left hand, then this phenomenon can become a manifestation of angina pectoris. And this is a formidable sign of cardiac muscle ischemia.

If the left hand is numb and does not go away, what should I do in this case? Seek medical advice immediately. Indeed, ignoring this symptom can lead to the most dangerous consequences.

It should be borne in mind that with angina pectoris, the left hand goes numb either at night or in the wee hours. Confirmation of heart disease will be the cessation of paresthesia after a person puts a nitroglycerin tablet under his tongue.

If the left hand is numb and does not go away, what should I do? If there is simultaneously with this symptom pain in the jaw or in the chest, which are localized in the left side of the body, you should, without delay, call an ambulance. Only in this case is it possible to prevent a heart attack or angina pectoris.

Many other diseases can also cause numbness in the hands. Consider their list based on the localization of the pathological phenomenon.

Fingers

Sometimes, by the location of the numbness zone on the arm, you can identify the cause of the symptom of the disease.

capillaries in the hand

Of course, such a diagnosis is not accurate and must be confirmed by medical research:

  1. Little finger. If a person does not feel this finger on his left hand, then it is necessary to exclude such dangerous pathologies as stroke and heart attack. As a rule, such numbness occurs at night. In the morning, a person feels a slight tingling from the tips of the fingers to the shoulder. In the absence of other symptoms of vascular and cardiac pathologies, the lack of sensitivity in the little finger can become a sign of atherosclerosis or osteochondrosis. What to do in this case? Consult a neurologist who, after diagnosis, will select the necessary course of treatment. Sometimes numbness occurs after a long, hard work. To eliminate the discomfort in this case, just give your hand a rest.
  2. Nameless. If this finger is numb on the left hand, then this phenomenon can also indicate problems with the heart and blood vessels. In addition, a similar symptom is observed with osteochondrosis, nervous strain, inflammation in the elbow joint and other ailments.
  3. Pointing. In most cases, his numbness indicates inflammation of the nerve fibers of the elbow joint or shoulder. This phenomenon occurs with cervical osteochondrosis or due to monotonous work at the computer for a long time.
  4. Middle. The reasons why this finger goes numb are very diverse. This may be a pathology of the spine or heart, an unbalanced diet, stress, vasoconstriction, etc. Sensitivity in the middle finger may be absent due to inflammation of the elbow joint, as well as after trauma, with atherosclerosis and trophic changes.
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First aid

The hand is numb and does not go away - what to do in such a situation? To begin with, it is recommended to compress, and then unclench your fist. Such simple movements will need to be performed approximately five times. After that, twist with a brush. Such light gymnastics will allow you to return numb limbs sensitivity.

After performing physical exercises, the affected area should be rubbed. You need to press on the skin with bent fingers, a palm or a fist, directing their movement from the brush. In the case when the house has a Kuznetsov applicator, Lyapko or other reflexotherapy devices, they should be attached to the zone of loss of sensitivity.

In the case when the hands often go numb during a night's rest, it is recommended to eliminate discomfort using a fairly simple folk method - contrast baths. This procedure is performed quickly and easily. You will need to prepare two containers. Pour cold water into one of them and warm water into the other. After this, you need to lower your hands alternately in one or the other of them for several minutes. Perform this procedure from 4 to 5 times during the day. At this time, it is recommended that the above simple exercises be performed.

Doctor

In cases where numbness provoked some physiological factor, and the unpleasant sensation disappeared by itself, you should not consult a specialist. You need to visit it in cases where:

  1. Loss of sensitivity of the hands does not pass for a long time.
  2. Numbness is felt even in the daytime. A similar symptom clearly indicates a health problem.
  3. The problem is observed in two hands at once. If they both go numb at the same time, then a doctor’s consultation is required.

Often people believe that numbness of the hands occurs only because of the uncomfortable position of the body. But if this happens all the time, then to restore lost health, you should go to the local therapist, cardiologist or neuropathologist.

In case of painful sensations that accompany numbness of the hands, dizziness, impaired vision and speech, cramps and other disturbing symptoms, you will need to call an ambulance.

When contacting a specialist, the patient will be assigned:

  • general analysis for blood tests;
  • electrocardiogram;
  • determination of glucose levels, which will eliminate the presence of diabetes;
  • computed, magnetic resonance imaging, radiography of the brain, spine, joints or numbness of the limb (at the discretion of the doctor);
  • conducting a biochemical blood test;
  • Ultrasound of internal organs (according to indications);
  • urinalysis general and according to Nechiporenko;
  • blood test (immunographic), which will eliminate rheumatoid arthritis.

When the first symptoms of numbness of the hands appear, it is important to consult a specialist as soon as possible. Timely identification of pathology, the appointment of the necessary course of therapy or surgical intervention will soon get rid of the disease.

Treatment principles

When a patient receives complaints about numbness of the hands, there is no point in treating limbs. After all, such a phenomenon is not an independent pathology at all. The main essence of therapy is to eliminate the cause of this condition.

hand with thumb up

Treatment for numb hands is usually complex. Several methods are used to fix the problem. That is why doctors recommend to their patients:

  • therapeutic exercises, which improves blood circulation;
  • physiotherapy;
  • manual therapy;
  • massage;
  • treatment with pharmaceuticals that should strengthen the vessels and prevent the occurrence of numbness;
  • intake of vitamin complexes.

Using the above procedures in combination, you can restore the circulatory system, accelerate tissue regeneration, and eliminate chronic disease.

Alternative Medicine Tips

Alternative recipes also allow you to successfully deal with numbness in the hands. The most popular and effective of the following are:

  1. Take a bath with rosemary. Lie in such healing water 10 minutes before bedtime.
  2. Carrying out procedures during which a mask is applied on the wrist in the form of heated pumpkin porridge. To enhance the effect of the hand, it is recommended to wrap it with a warm scarf.
  3. Rub numbness with mustard oil.
  4. Drink a glass of boiling water on an empty stomach in the morning. This will eliminate the problem with the fragility of blood vessels.
  5. Wear a thread of pure wool on your wrist.
  6. Use tincture of garlic. To do this, chopped vegetable should be poured with a bottle of vodka. After he has infused for two weeks, take the drug from 5 to 10 drops three times a day for a month.
  7. Apply a mixture of 100 grams of black pepper and warm vegetable oil to your hands.

These recipes will help eliminate discomfort and restore health.


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