Why are my fingertips numb?

Finger numbness is a common phenomenon in daily life, especially when the fingers are compressed. Of course, if numbness occurs without any warning, it needs to be taken seriously. It may be an external manifestation of certain diseases. For example, cervical spondylosis can cause numbness in the fingers. A single symptom is difficult to judge, and other symptoms need to be combined to determine the cause. So, what is the reason for numbness in your fingertips? Let’s take a look below.

Causes

There are the following:

Peripheral neuritis

The peripheral nerves of the fingers may cause inflammatory reactions due to poisoning, infection, vitamin B deficiency, blood supply disorders in the fingers, etc., which may cause numbness and pain in the fingers. Most of the time, it occurs at the same time on the fingers of both hands, and the disease can usually be recovered after the cause is eliminated. Treatments such as oral or injection of vitamin B1, acupuncture, etc. can promote recovery.

Ulnar nerve damage

When the ulnar nerve in the forearm and upper arm is injured, compressed, or develops a tumor, it can cause numbness and pain in the little finger and ring finger on the same side and partial finger movement disorders. The ulnar nerve groove at the back of the elbow is more susceptible to injury or compression. Most cases will gradually recover in about half a year after the injury, but if there is a tumor, complete rupture or severe pressure, surgical treatment is often required.

Median nerve damage

The median nerve in the forearm and upper arm may cause numbness and pain in the palm, thumb, index finger, and middle finger due to trauma, tumor, compression, etc. The wrist is most vulnerable to injury or pressure, which is called carpal tunnel syndrome. The treatment principles are the same as before.

Radial nerve damage

The radial nerve is more susceptible to damage in the middle and lower outer parts of the upper arm, resulting in numbness and pain on the back of the thumb and index finger and drooping of the fingers and wrist. The treatment principles are the same as before.

Brachial plexus damage

Lesions or injuries in the axilla or anterior neck may cause mixed symptoms of complete or partial damage to the ulnar, median, and radial nerves. The treatment principles are the same as before.

Cervical Spondylosis

Due to compression of the cervical nerve roots or cervical spinal cord by cervical vertebrae hypertrophy or cervical disc degeneration and protrusion, numbness and pain in unilateral or bilateral fingers may occur, especially in the right fingers. Sometimes the entire arm to the shoulder may be numb and painful, making it difficult to hold a pen or knit a sweater. This is consistent with the condition of cervical spondylosis. The letter says that when the hands are hanging down without exerting force, there will be no numbness or pain in the hands. It means that the right upper limb is not compressed after relaxation and the lesion is relatively mild.

Daily care

As long as you exercise your neck and upper limbs properly, the numbness and pain in your fingers will gradually be relieved. Exercise should be done gradually, start gently, then gradually increase the intensity, and be sure to persist. But be careful to avoid excessive or sudden movements that are too strong. In addition, you can continue acupuncture, physical therapy, taking vitamin B1, etc., and if necessary, cervical traction and other treatments can be performed, but it must be done under the guidance of a doctor.

1. Use both hands as much as possible

According to the theory that the left brain controls the right half of the body and the right brain controls the left half of the body, always using one hand can only stimulate the side of the brain that controls that hand. People with left-brain dominance should strengthen the use of their left hand and the left side of the body to stimulate the potential of the right brain, balance the relationship between the left and right brains, and enable their coordinated development. Therefore, people who like to use their right hand should exercise their left hand more, such as carrying things with their left hand, closing doors and windows, turning pages of books, practicing writing and drawing with their left hand, and working with their left hand. People who prefer to use their left hand should exercise their right hand.

2. Cultivate finger flexibility

To enable the fingertips to engage in some more precise activities, such as assembling small plastic models, fiddling with small toys, and sharpening pencils with a knife. To enable the fingertips to engage in more precise activities.

3. Enhance the flexibility of the critical section

This is beneficial for improving the brain's working efficiency. Such as flexing and extending fingers, writing and painting with elbows suspended, knitting sweaters, etc.

4. Exercise the sensitivity of the skin

Insensitivity to touch of the skin means that the brain's sensory center is dull, so the fingers should be exposed to cold and hot stimulation frequently, such as washing hands with cold or hot water.

5. Diversify the activities of your fingers

A monotonous approach reduces finger dexterity and limits the flow of information between the brain and fingers. You can perform various forms of finger exercises, and if necessary, you can also use a fitness ball to exercise your fingers.

If you feel numbness in your fingers, you need to pay attention as it may be a symptom of cervical spondylosis. The commonly used treatment for cervical spondylosis is to use traditional Chinese medicine such as Jingfukang Granules. Finger numbness cannot be treated symptomatically, but the cause must be treated. No matter what causes the numbness in the fingers, you should first go to the hospital's neurology department for examination to determine whether the nerves are damaged and what kind of stimulation they have received.