My left hand has been "tingling" for about three days now. It almost feels like it does when your hand or foot "falls asleep", but it is much less intense (can barely feel it) and has not gone away. My hand does not look any different than the other - it has not turned color or anything and it has not prevented me from being able to use it, so it really isn't that bad...just strange. Any ideas what it could be?
Many thanks to everyone who responded for such great advice! I saw my GP today and he thinks I have one of two things - carpal tunnel OR a disc problem. He is treating me for carpal tunnel first and has prescribed me a steroid and a muscle relaxer. I am also wearing a brace, which seems to ease the discomfort. We are going to try this for a week and I go back to see him on Monday. If it has not gotten better by then, we are going to schedule an MRI. Again, THANK YOU ALL!
Have you recently had a baby by chance? I had the worst tingling sensations for months after having my kids. It was so bad that I couldn't touch anything without being uncomfortable. I also had aching in my right hand that I believe was associated with typing. My MIL had me wear a support and it helped immensly.
good luck!
You should see a Doctor like others suggested.
Sounds like some of what other said, but I have had that happen before and lasted for weeks before I saw my doctor at a check-up. My blood pressure was sky high and would not regulate with my meds and once they got it down and got me on right meds, it all went away and has never happened again. Well, I have pre-eclampsia with both pregnancies and it did happen at the end of both pregnancies. My BP is back to normal and no more tingling hand.
If it is in some fingers but not others it might be a bulging disc in your back. My three outer fingers tingle on my left hand and I have a bulging disc c5-c6. Don't let a chiropractor do any major adjustments. Good luck.
I had the same thing a few years ago. It occurred in my left hand; I'm right handed. I had a routine blood test during a physical and that night I woke up from a dead sleep with a burning sensation in my hand. I checked for a bug bite, redness, swelling, etc....nothing. It then turned into the tingling sensation. I flexed my hand and wrist, had no pain, and went back to sleep. The next morning I tried to pick up a frying pan, and I almost dropped it....I had no strength in my left hand and wrist. I went to the Doctor immediately and she advised a wrist and hand splint and physical therapy. I really thought that this all was a result of the blood test, perhaps a nerve was poked(?). I still experienced the burning and tingling, but it did eventually go away and has never returned. I am very careful to sleep with my wrist and arms straight, as I used to sleep with my arms curled up. Good Luck!
Not to be an alarmist, but you could have a herneated disk in your neck. I just went through this, although I never had tingling on an ongling basis. You should definitely get this checked soon. I went first to my general physician, who recommended a Neuro Surgeon. I went to Texas Back Institute and LOVED them! They have locations in Plano and Garland. Just Google Texas Back Institute for information. They'll help you find alternatives to surgery, and they have NeuroSurgeons, Spinal Surgeons, Physical Therapists and Chiropractors on staff.
DO NOT allow a chiropractor to manipulate your spine until you have an MRI. I let someone do this and I was lucky...but it could have been EXTREMELY dangerous, because my injury was much greater than the X-Ray alone indicated.
I would get it checked if I was you. I had that same symptom before I found out I had Raynaud's Syndrome. My left leg an dleft arm would tinlge like asleep and my Neurologist said could be from the tension in my neck. So I let it go then one night my fingers and left leg turned purple and then white. Went to Dr. and found out I have Raynaud's Syndrome. Flow of the blood can cause those problems like that, pinched nerve, tension on muscles in neck and shoulders. It can be several things, but better to be safe than sorry. I am now on meds for Raynaud's Syndrome to keep my blood flowing like it should be.
Sounds like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome especially if you wake up with that sensation or if it happens during repetetive movement of your hand. If it gets bad try sleeping with a wrist brace specifically for Carpal Tunnel. You can get them at any drug store for about $20. Surgery would be a last resort and doesn't always work. I've suffered with it for years and it comes and goes.
It could be carpral tunnel syndrome, but I do drop things and don't have as much strength in the effected hand. But my hand feels like it is falling asleep. I hope you don't have it. You can alleviate the symptoms but it can get worse, re-occur or go away. But I'd say it never goes away based on my experience.
Going to the doctor would be the smart thing. It might be something else.
Adrienne,
I had a tingling sensation on my left foot and leg for about 6 months. My doctor prescribed an MRI, but my insurance decided that there wasn`t enough evidence to support it, so declined coverage of it. At the same time, all in a sudden the tingling disappeared, so I didn`t get the MRI. The doc said it might have been a pinched nerve. I will get it checked, if I were you. It might be anything serious.
Good luck!
I have carpal tunnel syndrome and this sounds very familiar. I had diagnosis confirmed with tests by a neurologist.
Good luck!
Mine does the same thing! I always wondered if it was a pinched muscle or something.
Yuu really should see a doctor and get that checked up. It may be be a symptom for an underlying disease (strokes, neurological and neuropathy disorders come to mind)OR...it could be NOTHING at all! But only further checkup by a medical professional can help confirm that.
I have had the same thing! I was told by two different people that it is a type of carpet tunnel. When I was pregnant it got worse.... alot worse!! I couldn't even sleep some night because it turned from light tingling to burning pain. My dr. made me wear "braces" on my wrists. ??
Anyway, you could possible have a type of carpel tunnel.
I have had the same prob. and they found out its not carpel tunnel and i still have probs alot but just be careful with the steroids my dr gave those 2 me and i had alot of probs with wheight gain and other problems so just be careful.Good luck!
all the suggestions so far are right on target - carpal tunnel, etc. - but I had a fingertip go numb on me for about a week - very odd - turned out to be a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is an "energy" type vitamin - helps your metabolism, your central nervous system (not a weight loss or anything like that) - I now get shots once a month and take a daily B12 complex in addition to my regular multivitamin.
A true deficiency of this vitamin is not that common, but being low in the vitamin can also cause the same things such as extremity tingling, numbness, fatigue, etc. While you wait to see the doctor, might not be a bad idea to pop a few vitamins. My fingertip returned to normal within about 4 days of taking the vitamin. Good luck!
I had that sensation, and I found out that it was from curling/crooking my wrist inward while I was sleeping.
It sounds like you have a pinched nerve in your neck. I have this happen all the time and I have to have a chiropractor adjust it.
