Some of the most common causes of tingling in the hands are nerve pressure, difficulties in blood circulation, inflammation, alcohol abuse, more serious diseases such as diabetes, strokes, multiple sclerosis or a heart attack.
The hands and arms are parts of the body that contain a large number of nerve endings, allowing for more delicate movements and feeling objects and temperature changes, for example. So any little change that can affect these nerves and cause tingling, and it’s not always serious or should be a cause for concern.
- In any case.
- If the tingling is severe.
- It takes several days to disappear or if it is associated with other symptoms such as excessive fatigue.
- Chest pain or difficulty speaking it is important to see your doctor to start proper treatment.
Tingling in the hands and feet can be caused by circulatory diseases of the arteries and veins, which also generate other symptoms such as pain and the formation of ulcers, in addition, feeling tingling in the hands and fingers when waking up can also indicate poor circulation.
What to do: Treatment is based on the type of deterioration of blood flow and whether there has been damage to the veins or arteries, and may include the use of rubber bands, the use of medications, such as ‘AAS, or even surgery, for example. To confirm and decide the best treatment, the right professional is the vascular surgeon.
Nerves that inert the arms leave the spinal cord through the spine and reach the most peripheral parts of the hand and fingers, along the way, these nerves may be pressured, either by tumors, infections or dilated blood vessels, as well as by spinal radiculopathy. , that is, when nerves are still compromised in the spine, by a herniated disk, spinal osteoarthritis or stenosis, for example, the spinal canal. Learn more about radiculopathy and its causes.
What to do: It is necessary to seek the help of the orthopedist or neurologist, so that treatment is done depending on the cause of nerve compression, either with physiotherapy or surgery, for example.
In many people, a migraine can be preceded by sensitive symptoms, called aura, which include tingling in the hands, arms, legs, or mouth, for example, in addition to visual changes, difficulty speaking, or even weakness in the limbs.
What to do: The treatment of migraine is guided by the neurologist and includes the use of analgesics, anti-inflammatories or anti-migraines to relieve pain, in addition to the need for preventive treatment and measures to prevent seizures, such as avoiding certain foods, odors or lack of sleep, for example. Find out what remedies exist to treat migraine.
Although this is a rarer situation, one of the first symptoms of a stroke is a tingling sensation in an arm or hand. In addition, other common symptoms of this problem include crooked mouth, lack of strength on one side of the body, and difficulty speaking.
What to do: If you suspect a stroke, you should immediately call an ambulance, call 192, or go to the emergency room immediately. Find out what to do and how to identify the stroke.
This syndrome is the main cause of tingling in the hands and occurs when the median nerve, which inerts the palm of the hand, compresses into the wrist area, causing tingling or numbness that worsens at night, difficulty holding small objects and feeling swollen fingers. This condition is very common during pregnancy, being the most common cause of tingling in the hands during pregnancy.
What to do: Depending on the severity of the compression of the median nerve, there are exercises that can be done to improve the symptoms, however, the only way to ensure recovery is through nerve decompression surgery. Check out the physical therapy guidelines in the video below:
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes progressive breakdown of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord; for example, some symptoms include loss of strength, excessive fatigue, memory problems, and tingling in various parts of the body, which can also be accompanied by a burning sensation.
What to do: Treatment should be done with medicines that delayed the development of the disease, such as interferon or mitoxantrone, so it is necessary to consult a family doctor or neurologist to diagnose the disease and initiate appropriate treatment. is and how to treat multiple sclerosis.
The synovial cyst can appear in any of the joints of the hands, such as the wrist or the fingers, and usually causes the appearance of a small lump on the skin, filled with joint fluid, which can eventually compress the nerves and generate tingling on the skin. the hand as well as the loss. Force.
What to do: Applying cold compresses to the lump can help reduce swelling and relieve symptoms, however, there may be cases where it is necessary to aspirate the fluid or use an anti-inflammatory, and the orthopedist should be consulted; otherwise, improvement after 1 week. . See how to use cold compresses.
The deficiency of certain vitamins, especially vitamins B12, B6, B1 or E, can cause changes in the nerves that cause tingling in different parts of the body and changes in sensitivity, in addition to several others such as irritability, fatigue and psychiatric disorders, for example .
What to do: these deficiencies can be combated with a special diet rich in these vitamins or by substituting vitamin supplements, orally or intramuscularly, as necessary in the case of vitamin B12.
Tingling or numbness in the left arm, or more rarely in the right arm, can be a symptom of a heart attack, especially when it worsens during exercise or is accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, malaise or cold sweat. .
What to do: in case of suspected heart attack, it is necessary to go immediately to the emergency room or call the mobile emergency service, at number 192, so that, if confirmed, treatment can be started as soon as possible, to avoid irreversible damage. to the heart Learn to identify the symptoms of a heart attack in women, men, or the elderly.
Sometimes diabetes can be a difficult disease to diagnose, especially if it doesn’t cause classic symptoms such as very frequent urination or excessive thirst. In cases where treatment is not initiated or is not followed in the correct way indicated by your doctor, blood sugar levels increase in your bloodstream.
When sugar levels are very high for a long time, one of the consequences is the appearance of small lesions in the nerves of various parts of the body and, therefore, diabetes can cause tingling in the hands. , arms, legs or feet, for example.
What to do: If you suspect you have diabetes, it is very important that you consult an endocrinologist to start insulin treatment, as only dietary changes may not be able to treat tingling. Understand how diabetes is treated.
When hypothyroidism is not treated properly, it can cause damage to the nerves that carry information between the brain and the rest of the body, so in addition to symptoms such as hair loss, weight gain or a constant feeling of cold, the Hypothyroidism can also cause tingling in various parts of the body, including the hands and arms.
What to do: When you already know you have a thyroid problem, or if you suspect it, you should see an endocrinologist to start proper treatment with thyroid control medications. Here are also some tips for regulating your thyroid with food:
Epicondylite, also known as tennis elbow, is an inflammation of the muscles and tendons of the elbow that is caused by repeated use of the joint, as is the case in tennis players or people working on assembly lines, for example.
In these cases, there may be severe elbow pain and loss of strength throughout the arm, and tingling usually comes from compression of the ulnar nerve, located in the arm, due to inflammation.
What to do: Applying cold compresses to the elbow can relieve symptoms, however, physical therapy sessions or taking anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may be necessary in the most severe cases. In the only way, it’s always important to consult an orthopedist. Learn more about the treatment of epicondylite.
Your doctor will see what symptoms you have, when they appear, and how severe. Work habits and life history can help you figure out what may be causing this discomfort. Certain blood tests may be requested if diabetes, vitamin deficiency, or immune system disorders are suspected, an electromyogram test may be requested to evaluate the activity of your arm and hand muscles.
Treatment must be directed at the cause, so it varies greatly, the doctor can only recommend exercises to increase blood circulation, maintain the ideal weight, physiotherapy sessions can be useful in cases of musculoskeletal or neuromotor disorders, and the use of medications, for example in cases of infections or autoimmune diseases. In cases of alcohol abuse, its restriction also helps to improve numbness.