My left arm has been tingling for days

If your hand or arm gets numb, the cause could range from carpal tunnel syndrome to a pinched nerve. No matter the reason, treatments can give you relief as well as get to the root of the problem.

The most common reason for getting a numb hand or arm is sitting or sleeping in the same position for a long time. That can put pressure on your nerves and cut off blood flow, which brings on short-term numbness.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The carpal tunnel is the narrow passageway formed by connective tissue and small bones on the palm-side of your wrist. Tendons and your median nerve go through it.

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when inflammation or a narrowing of your tunnel puts pressure on a nerve inside. Sometimes this happens because of hand and finger movements you do over and over.

Problems often start gradually. You may feel numbness in your thumb and the two fingers next to it. It can be painful, too. Your hand might feel weak and you might drop things.

If you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome, take breaks during repetitive movement to rest your hands. Avoid activities that make your symptoms worse, and use cold packs to ease pain and swelling.

See a doctor if these symptoms don't go away and they interrupt your sleep or daily activities. The doctor might recommend a splint, medicine, or surgery. Without treatment, carpal tunnel syndrome can cause permanent damage to nerves and muscles.

Pinched Nerve

If your cartilage, muscles, or tendons put too much pressure on a nerve, it might not be able to work right. This can cause numbness.

An injury or overuse can cause a pinched nerve. Sometimes it's due to health problems like arthritis, a narrowing of the spaces between the bones in your spine, or a tumor on the spine.

If a pinched nerve made your arm numb, you might also have:

• Sharp aching or burning pain
• Tingling or "pins and needles" feeling
• Muscle weakness in your arm
• Frequent feeling that your hand has fallen asleep

Rest and over-the-counter pain relievers can help relieve your symptoms. If they don't, and your symptoms last more than a few days, see your doctor. They might recommend a splint, brace, physical therapy, medication, or surgery.

Migraine With Aura

Some migraine headaches include what's called "auras," which can affect your vision and other senses. Arm numbness can be one of those sensory problems.

If migraine with aura is the cause of your arm numbness, the symptoms usually start within an hour of the head pain. They last less than an hour.

Other aura symptoms include:

• Changes in vision or vision loss, including blind spots
• Seeing zigzag lines, flashes of light, or stars
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty speaking or finding the right word

Your doctor can prescribe medications to treat and prevent migraines if over-the-counter pain relievers are not enough.

You should see your doctor if you have the symptoms of migraine with aura because some of these, such as vision problems, are also symptoms of a stroke or a torn retina.

Diabetes

High blood sugar levels can damage your nerves and cause a problem called diabetic neuropathy. You may get numbness that usually starts in both of your feet. In rare cases, it can affect your hands, too.

If you have diabetic neuropathy, you might also have:

• Tingling or burning
• Sharp pains or cramps
• Increased sensitivity to touch (the weight of your clothes or sheets could be painful)
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of reflexes, especially in the ankle
• Trouble with balance and coordination
• Serious foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, and bone and joint pain

There's no cure for diabetic neuropathy, but doctors can prescribe medicine to relieve the symptoms. Better blood sugar control can help slow the nerve damage.

If you think you have diabetic neuropathy, talk to your doctor about how to make improvements in your diabetes management.

Neurological Condition

Neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), can also cause arm numbness.

If a neurological problem is behind your arm numbness, you might also have:

• Numbness in your feet
• Problems speaking or concentrating

See a doctor to get treatment that can relieve symptoms, and, in some neurological conditions, help slow the progress of the disease.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Some types of chemotherapy for cancer can cause nerve damage that leads to numbness or tingling and pain in your arms, legs, fingers, toes, or other areas of your body. It's called the "glove and stocking sensation" because it can feel like a thick, tight glove.

Medications can relieve these symptoms, especially the pain.

This is a normal side effect of some chemotherapy, but you should talk to your doctor if it prevents you from doing your daily activities. It could take up to 2 years after chemotherapy for full feeling to return.

Stroke

A stroke happens when a blood vessel carrying blood to your brain either bursts or is blocked by a blood clot.

Besides numbness in your arms or legs, a stroke may cause weakness, confusion, problems seeing and speaking, and drooping on one side of your face, but not always. Stoke symptoms occur suddenly and will only affect one arm. If you have any of these, call 911.

Heart Attack

Though other signs of a heart attack (like chest pain, shortness of breath, and breaking out in a cold sweat) are more common than arm numbness, you may also have arm numbness or arm pain. This sensation normally runs on the inside of your left arm and is accompanied by chest pain

If you suspect you or someone you're with may have symptoms of a heart attack, call 911.