Numbness of the fingers is considered an abnormal sensation that is often accompanied by tingling and can occur in cases of hypothermia or is considered a sign of a serious, life-threatening condition. Often it is accompanied by a feeling of detachment and a decrease in the emotional background, which is considered a sign of depression.
Periodical bouts of tingling and numbness can occur in the presence of serious he alth problems, in particular, such as migraine attacks or neuroses. Also, a similar condition can be during attacks of fear caused by an event that threatens life.
Main reasons
Among the most common causes of finger numbness are the following:
- osteochondrosis;
- Raynaud's disease;
- thrombosis;
- polyneuropathy.
When people work at a computer for a long time, carpal tunnel syndrome is observed. In the case of the development of such a violation, there is a strong swelling of the fingers up to a painful condition.
With Raynaud's disease, blood circulation in small vessels is disturbed and numbness is observed. Peoplewith this disease are very often prone to various infections. In the cold, the fingers immediately begin to freeze, turn white. One of the most dangerous conditions is the blockage of cerebral vessels. Tingling and numbness of the fingers indicates that a stroke condition is possible. At the same time, a person experiences discomfort in only one arm, as well as a severe headache and increased pressure.
Loss of sensation and numbness of the toes are experienced by many people. Among the main reasons for this may be not very comfortable shoes, lack of vitamins, the presence of an intervertebral hernia. Toe numbness can also be related to problems such as:
- diabetes;
- atherosclerosis;
- nerve crushing;
- backbone problems;
- new growths.
In case of recurring discomfort, be sure to consult a doctor for diagnosis and follow-up treatment.
Cardiovascular disorders
Numbness in the fingers can be triggered by a violation of blood flow to a certain area. This is mainly seen in conditions such as:
- deep vein thrombosis;
- Buerger's disease;
- frostbite.
In addition, among the main provoking factors, peripheral arterial diseases can be distinguished, in particular, such as atherosclerosis of the vessels, in which their narrowing occurs.
Neurological disorders
Numbness of fingers due to nerve compressionmay be associated with diseases and disorders such as:
- brain tumors;
- alcoholism;
- encephalitis;
- heavy metal poisoning;
- multiple sclerosis;
- neuropathy;
- hypothyroidism.
Tumours or brain injuries, myelitis, stroke, and vitamin deficiencies can also be identified among the provoking factors.
Orthopedic disorders
Numbness of the fingers can also occur due to the presence of minor or dangerous orthopedic diseases that can lead to damage to the nerve endings. These should include such as:
- bone fracture;
- neck injury;
- carpal tunnel injury;
- herniated disc;
- osteoporosis;
- pinched nerve.
Also, among the main causes of discomfort, degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc should be noted. All these conditions require special attention and complex treatment.
Other reasons
Numbness of the fingers is a sign of so many disorders, as well as various diseases. This symptom can be present both in a sick person and in a completely he althy person.
Among one of the causes of numbness of the fingers at night is the uncomfortable position of the body during sleep. The mechanism of loss of sensitivity and control over the muscles is associated with squeezing the main arteries that feed the soft tissues. Often only the arm that has experienced the most weight and lack of blood flow is the only one that goes numb.
Disturbance of sensation in the limbs can occur due to the presence of diabetes. An increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood leads to the formation of certain toxic substances in the body. With many years of diabetes, they lead to metabolic disorders in nerve cells, in particular in the limbs.
Numbness in the fingers can be caused by alcoholism. This is one of the signs of damage to peripheral nerves by alcohol and its decay products. With an excess of these substances in the blood, the level of glucose decreases, and the work of nerve cells slows down somewhat. Initially, sensitivity in the area of the hands and feet disappears with gradual progression.
With increasing pressure, in some cases, quite unusual manifestations can be observed. Often, numbness of the fingers, pain in the lower back and blurred vision are observed in people who have suffered a stroke of the brain. This is due to an increase in the permeability of the walls of cerebral vessels, resulting in swelling.
Numbness and tingling in the hands can occur in cases of chronic anemia. In addition, such disorders include tachycardia, shortness of breath, deterioration of well-being during physical exertion. The mechanism of the problem is related to the lack of oxygen supplied to the nerve fibers.
The most common cause of simultaneous numbness in arms and legs is stress. The reaction of the body to this rather dangerous factor can be completely different. In addition, these symptomscan occur in case of intoxication of the body with various substances. In addition, there is a change in reflexes, clouding of reason, vomiting.
Numbness during pregnancy
Numbness and tingling of the fingers during pregnancy can be physiological or pathological. Throughout the entire period of pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes many different changes that help provide the best conditions for the development of the fetus. One of them is the centralization of blood circulation, which is especially pronounced in pregnant women with anemia. As a result, the skin looks more pale. In addition, the limbs become suddenly numb when cold, and their intensity is usually the same in both hands.
Some pregnant women develop carpal tunnel syndrome, which may be due to fluid retention in the body. As the fetus develops, water accumulates, tissues swell, including in the wrist area. In addition, there is compression of the median nerve.
The most pronounced signs of tunnel syndrome in the morning, as the accumulation of fluid in the body occurs at night. Basically, this condition goes away on its own after delivery.
It is important to note that such manifestations are typical only for the initial stage of pregnancy. After a while, there is an increased production of blood cells. In addition, the occurrence of numbness can develop as a result of a certain disease. The diagnosis of these pathologies does not differfrom the standards, however, the treatment implies the impossibility of using certain medications, as they are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Numbness in children
There are many reasons why children may experience numbness in different parts of the body. To numbness in the limbs can lead to a lack of vitamins and minerals, malnutrition. This is mainly due to a lack of B vitamins.
Sports injuries can also lead to numbness. That is why parents should pay special attention to the child's complaints of numbness of the limbs, which can last for several minutes. This can be a sign of tendon, ligament or bone fracture damage. Often in childhood, numbness of the face and lips should cause anxiety.
Main symptoms
Numbness in the limbs is often associated with pain or may additionally be accompanied by other sensory disturbances such as tingling and burning. Strokes can also affect movement and speech.
Depending on the precipitating factor, numbness may disappear very quickly or last for a long time. In any case, if a similar problem is observed frequently or the discomfort continues for several minutes, then you should definitely seek qualified medical help. Among the main symptoms that can provoke numbness, it is necessary to highlightsuch as:
- burning sensation;
- alarm;
- numbness and tingling while walking;
- pain in the lumbar region;
- frequent urination;
- muscle cramps;
- rashes;
- increase sensitivity to touch.
Some of these signs may indicate the presence of serious pathological conditions. This must be taken into account by the doctor when carrying out medical manipulations.
Diagnostics
If there is numbness of the finger, what to do in this case, only the attending doctor can determine. With complaints, you need to contact a neurologist or traumatologist. To determine for what reason the numbness occurred, you need to contact the doctor for a diagnosis, which includes:
- radiography;
- tomography;
- ultrasound diagnostics;
- doppler;
- electroencephalography;
- electrocardiography;
- laboratory tests of blood and urine.
After diagnosing and determining the causes of numbness, the patient is referred for treatment to the appropriate specialist. After that, complex therapy is prescribed, which is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease that provoked discomfort.
Features of treatment
Violation of tactile sensations is only a sign of a certain disease, which is why the treatment of finger numbness is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease that provoked deteriorationwell-being. If the cause is hidden in heart problems, then observation by a cardiologist is required, since numbness can be a sign of a stroke or heart attack. In this case, urgent medical attention and hospitalization is required.
If you have polyneuropathy, you need to contact a neurologist. After a comprehensive diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment. The complex includes the use of medications, physiotherapy, and manual therapy.
Physiotherapy techniques
When various diseases occur, drug therapy is aimed at eliminating swelling, pain, and normalizing blood circulation. An important role in the treatment is played by exercises for numbness of the fingers, as well as physiotherapy. They help repair damaged tissue.
In particular, electrophoresis with medications can be prescribed, which helps to eliminate pain and inflammation in soft tissues and joints in arthrosis and arthritis. Magnetic therapy sessions, laser and ultrasound effects, amplipulse can also be useful.
Massage and gymnastics will help restore the sensitivity of the fingers. There are many different exercises that guarantee a very good result. It is enough to perform only a few simple exercises, consisting of squeezing and unclenching the hands.
Folk remedies
Treatment of finger numbness is widely used folkmeans that help eliminate discomfort and improve well-being. To enhance blood circulation in the limbs, rubbing an oil-pepper mixture is prescribed. It is prepared from 50 grams of ground black pepper mixed with 0.5 liters of vegetable oil, then everything is boiled for half an hour.
Also, warm pumpkin porridge should be applied to the entire limb. After that, the compress must be wrapped with polyethylene, and on top with a warm scarf.
Eliminate inflammation will help tincture of vodka cinquefoil, nettle and wormwood, taken in a ratio of 1:2:2. 200 grams of vegetable raw materials must be insisted on a liter of vodka for 20 days in a dark place. The medicine should be used as a rub. Before using traditional medicine, you should consult a doctor.
Prophylaxis
To prevent the occurrence of numbness, certain preventive measures must be observed. When working at a computer for a long time, as well as maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, it is imperative to periodically perform simple exercises.
It is important to monitor your well-being and in case of illness, be sure to consult a doctor for treatment. In addition, it is not advisable to allow hypothermia, excessive physical exertion and injuries should be avoided.
