When to seek medical advice
See your doctor if you experience intermittent numbness or tingling in one or both hands. Get emergency medical care if the numbness:
- Began suddenly
- Follows an injury or accident
- Is accompanied by a sudden, severe headache
- Is accompanied by weakness or paralysis
- Is accompanied by confusion or difficulty speaking
- Is accompanied by dizziness or lightheadedness
Find possible causes of numbness or tingling in hands based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.
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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. 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. 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: 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.Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Pinched Nerve
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: 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. 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: 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 conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), can also cause arm numbness. If a neurological problem is behind your arm numbness, you might also have:Migraine With Aura
Diabetes
Neurological Condition
- 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.
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. 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. 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.Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Stroke
Heart Attack