Ask the Hand Surgeon:
Why Do I Have Numbness & Tingling in My Hands?

Tingling feelings can happen in any part of the body, but the hands and wrists are especially likely to develop “pins and needles”. Sometimes the sensations go away quickly – like when you sit on your feet and they “fall asleep”. But if numbness and tingling of the hands and/or wrists is on-going issues, the underlying cause could be more serious.

Clarkston, MI hand surgeon Dr. Rehman is specially trained to diagnose and treat conditions of the hand and wrist. She has helped hundreds of patients in the Clarkston, Waterford & Bloomfield Hills area get relief from tingling and numbness in their hands.

In this article, Doctor Rehman explains a few of the more common medical conditions that cause numbness and tingling in the hands.

Common Conditions Causing Numbness & Tingling in the Hands

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by compression of the Median nerve that runs through your wrist.  This is often the result of repetitive motion activities. Certain occupations are more at risk for this condition: butchers and meat packers, sewing and finishing workers, employees who work on computer for long hours and some assembly line workers.

Repetitive bending and straightening of the wrist causes tissues around the tendons to swell and impact the Median nerve. This can result in pain, or just numbness and/or tingling.

Flexor Tendon Injury

Flexor tendons in the hand are responsible for helping us bend the fingers. An injury or a trauma to one of these tendons can result in a tingling or burning sensation in the hands and fingers.

Ganglion cysts

These are noncancerous, fluid-filled lumps that can develop along joints or tendons, putting pressure on nerves and causing a tingling sensation in the hand.

Skier’s Thumb

This condition is a common snow skiing injury, which is how it received its name. However, it can be caused by any injury to the ulnar collateral ligament. Skier’s Thumb results in not being able to pinch the thumb and fingers together, and can involve numbness or tingling.

Medical Conditions Causing Tingling or Numb Hands

Diseases affecting the peripheral nerves, such as diabetes, also can cause numbness and tingling in the hands. However, with diabetes similar symptoms usually occur first in your feet.

In less common instances, numbness can be caused by more serious medical problems, such as conditions of the brain or spinal cord, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Lyme disease, Multiple sclerosis, stroke, vasculitis and other illnesses.

Vitamin deficiencies cause also cause tingling hands and feet. Vitamins E, B1, B6, B12, and niacin are essential for proper nerve functioning. Vitamin deficiency, for example, can lead to pernicious anemia, an important cause of peripheral neuropathy.

Diagnosing the Cause of Numbness and Tingling in the Hands

Numbness and tingling are signals that something is not right with the nerves in the affected area. However, since numbness and tingling can be caused by a variety of medical conditions – from harmless to serious – it is best not to self-diagnose or self-treat without seeing a board certified hand surgeon like Dr. Rehman.

Your hands and wrists are delicate structures that can perform amazingly complicated maneuvers, and we want to keep them that way! If you are experiencing tingling or numbness in the fingers or hands, contact a Board Certified Orthopedic hand surgeon such as Contact Dr. Rehman for a full evaluation and comprehensive treatment plan.

She has a team of hand specialists that work with her, who can get you back to full mobility and make those annoying sensations go away for good!

Top Clarkston Area Hand Surgeon

If you are suffering from an injury or pain in your fingers, wrist, elbow or arm, contact board certified Clarkston area hand surgeon Doctor Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. As with most medical conditions, early detection, awareness, and a prevention or treatment plan is the most effective way to combat the effects of conditions like numbness & tingling.

Doctor Rehman will assess your individual situation, and prescribe the treatments that are best for your condition.

Clarkston Area Hand Surgeon: 248.335.2638