Tingling in Hands – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Paresthesia is the medical term used for describing tingling. Tingling sensation can occur anywhere in the body but often it is felt in the feet, hands, arms and legs. Pressure exerted on the nerve fiber causes tingling feeling and often it goes away when the pressure is removed. But there are some conditions like peripheral neuropathy which can cause tingling feeling even without any pressure. Here nerve damage has been done and for some people tingling can occur frequently and persistently.
Hands are made of intricate bones and among various parts of the body, hands performs excellent function owing to its amazing anatomy. Even the smallest hand injury can make you feel sick since you may not be able to perform many functions without hand. Carpel tunnel syndrome is one of the most common types of nerve damage that occur on the wrist. The nerve fibers get compressed inside the carpal tunnel which serves as platform for the median nerve to pass through. This condition can occur due to any injury or trauma or sometimes due to repetitive task done by the hand. This condition produces tingling sensation in the hand and more particularly during night. Other factors like long-term diabetes, chemotherapy, vitamin deficiency and certain infectious diseases can cause tingling of hands and feet.
Symptoms :
If the symptoms of tingling get weakened in few seconds, then you have nothing to worry about it. It can be due to nerve compression when the person falls asleep on his arm. However if the tingling feeling continues for long and occurs now and then along with other symptoms, then it is a matter of serious concern. Tingling is the feeling of “pins and needles” and sometimes the wrist area becomes numb for few seconds or minutes. Signs like severe Headache, slurred speech, extreme fatigue, poor concentration and impaired mental coordination accompanied with tingling are dangerous and the person has to seek prompt medical care.
Causes :
Peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage is one of the major causes for tingling of hands and feet. Diabetic patients are at high risk of developing this problem. Nerve damage can range anywhere from mild to severe. For some others it can be the first sign of diabetes until then they are not aware about it.
Lack of vitamins, infections like Herpes Simplex, lupus, Shingles and certain medical conditions like kidney disorder, blood related diseases, liver damage and Alcoholism can also cause tingling of hand.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other nerve entrapment syndrome can cause tingling in people.
Injury to hand, increased level of toxins in blood and certain type of autoimmune disorders like arthritis and Lyme Disease can also cause tingling feeling. Insect bites, frostbite, migraine headache, and poor blood supply to the hand can also cause nerve damage producing tingling feeling.
Tests :
The doctor will complete the physical exam after collecting medical history of the patient. He may further request for blood test and other imaging tests like CT/MRI scan along with nerve conduction test.
Treatment :
Once the doctor has diagnosed the actual cause of tingling it is easy to treat it. Method of treatment varies with that of the real cause of the problem. Underlying medical issues will have to be resolved to get rid of tingling feeling. Numbness in hands/feet and tingling feeling can be dangerous. The person may not have enough sensation to feel the pain or any sudden changes in the atmosphere and is under risk of getting burnt or injury.
Paresthesia is the medical term used for describing tingling. Tingling sensation can occur anywhere in the body but often it is felt in the feet, hands, arms and legs. Pressure exerted on the nerve fiber causes tingling feeling and often it goes away when the pressure is removed. But there are some conditions like peripheral neuropathy which can cause tingling feeling even without any pressure. Here nerve damage has been done and for some people tingling can occur frequently and persistently.
Hands are made of intricate bones and among various parts of the body, hands performs excellent function owing to its amazing anatomy. Even the smallest hand injury can make you feel sick since you may not be able to perform many functions without hand. Carpel tunnel syndrome is one of the most common types of nerve damage that occur on the wrist. The nerve fibers get compressed inside the carpal tunnel which serves as platform for the median nerve to pass through. This condition can occur due to any injury or trauma or sometimes due to repetitive task done by the hand. This condition produces tingling sensation in the hand and more particularly during night. Other factors like long-term diabetes, chemotherapy, vitamin deficiency and certain infectious diseases can cause tingling of hands and feet.
Symptoms :
If the symptoms of tingling get weakened in few seconds, then you have nothing to worry about it. It can be due to nerve compression when the person falls asleep on his arm. However if the tingling feeling continues for long and occurs now and then along with other symptoms, then it is a matter of serious concern. Tingling is the feeling of “pins and needles” and sometimes the wrist area becomes numb for few seconds or minutes. Signs like severe Headache, slurred speech, extreme fatigue, poor concentration and impaired mental coordination accompanied with tingling are dangerous and the person has to seek prompt medical care.
Causes :
- Nerve Damage :
Peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage is one of the major causes for tingling of hands and feet. Diabetic patients are at high risk of developing this problem. Nerve damage can range anywhere from mild to severe. For some others it can be the first sign of diabetes until then they are not aware about it.
- Diseases and Weakness :
Lack of vitamins, infections like Herpes Simplex, lupus, Shingles and certain medical conditions like kidney disorder, blood related diseases, liver damage and Alcoholism can also cause tingling of hand.
- Syndrome :
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other nerve entrapment syndrome can cause tingling in people.
- Toxins and Other Causes :
Injury to hand, increased level of toxins in blood and certain type of autoimmune disorders like arthritis and Lyme Disease can also cause tingling feeling. Insect bites, frostbite, migraine headache, and poor blood supply to the hand can also cause nerve damage producing tingling feeling.
Tests :
The doctor will complete the physical exam after collecting medical history of the patient. He may further request for blood test and other imaging tests like CT/MRI scan along with nerve conduction test.
Treatment :
Once the doctor has diagnosed the actual cause of tingling it is easy to treat it. Method of treatment varies with that of the real cause of the problem. Underlying medical issues will have to be resolved to get rid of tingling feeling. Numbness in hands/feet and tingling feeling can be dangerous. The person may not have enough sensation to feel the pain or any sudden changes in the atmosphere and is under risk of getting burnt or injury.
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