What Can Cause the Numbness in Hands?
The right hand can go numb for a variety of reasons, from nerve issues to dietary deficiencies. While some are small, others are not a reason for alarm.
Numbness in the right hand can occur for a variety of causes, including carpal tunnel syndrome, adverse drug reactions, and recent trauma.
A person will typically also have other symptoms along with numbness if the issue is significant.
This article discusses some ailments that might numb the right hand, their signs, and when to contact a doctor.
Common causes of hand numbness
The following are the more common causes of hand numbness:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
When a person performs repetitive motions with the hand and wrist, such as typing, writing, or pressing buttons, carpal tunnel syndrome, a disease known as repetitive stress injury, develops.
The movements impose pressure on the median nerve, a major hand nerve. The person feels pain, numbness, and tingling in the wrist, hand, and occasionally the arm as the motions strain the nerve.
Since carpal tunnel syndrome typically becomes worse with time, getting a diagnosis and treatment from a doctor as soon as possible can help prevent major problems.
Most medical professionals would advise a patient to use a wrist splint or limit certain activities until the soreness goes down.
Side effects of medication
Some medications have the risk of damaging the nerves or causing neuropathy, which often affects the peripheral nerves and results in tingling and numbness in the limbs like the hands and feet.
The medicine may harm and interfere with nerve impulses by having a toxic impact on the myelin sheath or axon of the nerves.
Some heart or blood pressure medicines, such as amiodarone and hydralazine, are examples of the types of medications that include neuropathy as a possible side effect.
- Several cancer medicines, including vincristine and cisplatin
- Several antibiotics, including metronidazole and isoniazid
- Several anti-seizure medicines, such as phenytoin
Trauma
The right hand’s numbness might also result from physical damage.
The individual is prone to experience numbness if an external incident, such as a vehicle accident, cuts, strains, or compresses a nerve to the right hand.
A doctor’s checkup is recommended for everyone who has experienced physical trauma to identify the extent of the damage.
Diabetes
High blood sugar levels are a way of life for diabetics, who manage it with insulin shots.
However, prolonged high blood glucose levels might result in diabetic neuropathy or damage to the nerves.
Typically, the peripheral nerves in the feet and sometimes the hands are affected by nerve injury, which results in tingling and numbness.
If a person has diabetes and is also showing the symptoms mentioned below, they should consult their doctor.
- Peeing too much
- Always thirsty and hungry
- Weight loss without any workout
- Blurry vision
- Fatigue
- Dry skin or sores that heal slowly
- More infections than normal
Tennis elbow
The tennis elbow is known in medicine as lateral epicondylitis. This overuse syndrome is brought on by inflammation and microscopic tears in the tendons around the elbow.
The inflammation may result in numbness in the hand, and the tears produce a terrible burning feeling on the outside of the elbow.
Tennis elbow is so named because it frequently affects players of racquet sports. It still happens often in many other activities, though.
Physical therapy, rest, and medications for pain relief and inflammation are typically used as treatments.
Golfer’s elbow
The tennis elbow is the polar opposite of a golfer’s elbow. The inside of the elbow is mainly affected by discomfort and inflammation in this case. Golfer’s elbow is medial epicondylitis, whereas tennis elbow is lateral.
Numbness in the hand is a possible sign, just like in tennis elbow.
The golfer’s elbow may often be treated and avoided with physical therapy, rest, and painkillers.
A health doctor could advise the patient to strengthen their wrist by curling their wrists and squeezing a tennis ball.
Nutritional deficiency
Low vitamin B12 levels can lead to nerve issues that result in tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
The following are other signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency:
- fatigue
- weakness
- constipation
- anaemia
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- neurological issues like confusion, depression, and balance issues
Vitamin B12 is typically obtained from food. It may be found in a wide variety of foods, such as beef liver, clams, fish, pork, poultry, eggs, and milk.
A multivitamin might be useful for vegetarians and vegans who may have problems obtaining a source of vitamin B12.
Potassium may be found in a wide variety of foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. As a result, most people do not need to take a supplement.
Raynaud’s disease
Small blood vessels in the limbs contract as a result of Raynaud’s illness when a person is exposed to the cold.
Numbness, discomfort, tingling, and throbbing in the hands may result from the spasming. The skin will develop a reddish-white spotted appearance.
Since it rarely gets worse on its own, Raynaud’s is quite common. A person could still want to visit a doctor if there is a hidden problem, though.
Herniated cervical disk
A cervical disc in the neck may slide or herniate due to deterioration or a recent injury.
The herniation might lead to a spinal canal constriction, which would exert pressure on the nerve root. This may result in tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hand and arm.
Physical therapy, rest, and painkillers are used as herniated disc treatments. A doctor could advise surgery or injections on occasion.
Rare causes of hand numbness
Less often than rare are the following causes:
Heart attack
Shoulder discomfort or arm pain are common symptoms of a heart attack. Calling for emergency help should be done as quickly as possible if someone believes they are experiencing a heart attack or if someone else is.
If a person does not experience chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, and back, jaw, or neck pain, arm or shoulder pain is likely not a sign of a heart attack.
Stroke
One of the main signs of a stroke is a sudden loss of strength and sensation on one side of the body.
So if a person only has numbness on their right hand, right side of their body, and right side of their face, a stroke might be the reason.
Other signs of a stroke include:
- Confusion
- Difficulty walking and seeing a headache
- One side of the body and face is numb
One should get emergency medical care as soon as they can if they believe they or another person may have had a stroke.
Syphilis
If left untreated, syphilis can spread to the brain and nervous system, leading to neurosyphilis.
Now, the bacteria cause tingling and numbness in the hands and feet in addition to:
- Awful headache
- Unplanned activities
- Paralysis
- Dementia
Syphilis is treatable with antibiotics, however, they may not cure the disease’s effects.
Ganglion cyst
The most frequent factor causing lumps in the hands is a ganglion cyst. These cysts that contain fluid are often harmless and may go away on their own.
A person may have tingling or numbness in the hand, though, if the cyst is pushing on a nerve.
If required, a doctor might operate to remove the cyst.
Physical therapy, rest, or even antibiotics can treat the majority of musculoskeletal causes of hand numbness.
Some of the uncommon reasons mentioned in this article, nevertheless, are chronic and call for continued medical care.
There are various causes of finger numbness. The good news is that single-hand movements and stretching exercises can help you get your hands back to normal.
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