Numbness in the fingers of my left hand

Numbness of the fingers of the left hand has recently become quite common. It can be accidental due to short-term compression of the nerve, or pathological, manifesting itself as a sign of another, more serious disease.

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Causes of numbness in the fingers of the left hand

Let's look at some of the reasons for numbness in the fingers of the left hand:

• pathological disorders in the spine, complicated course of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the cervical spine, deformative changes in the intervertebral discs, the vertebrae themselves or articular surfaces due to traumatic effects, prolonged static and dynamic loads on the back and neck, active sports, etc.;
• excessive load and tension of the spinal muscles, which occurs with prolonged uncomfortable positions of the back or head, which causes short-term muscle spasms affecting nearby nerve trunks;
• ischemic phenomena in the cervical spine and in the brain (circulatory disorders, strokes);
• the influence of stressful situations, psychological and emotional factors.

The most common cause of numbness in the fingers of the left hand is compression of the neurovascular plexus. This plexus is responsible for trophism and nerve conduction, and compression of vessels or nerves (especially long-term) leads to a slowdown in blood flow, deterioration of tissue nutrition and temporary loss of sensitivity.

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Symptoms of numbness in the fingers of the left hand

Clinical manifestations of finger numbness usually peak at night and in the morning. The main symptoms are:

• decreased sensitivity of some or all fingers on the hand;
• tingling sensation in the fingers;
• transient muscle weakness in the fingers;
• a burning sensation, a crawling sensation on the skin.

Numbness can manifest itself both in the fingertips and in the hand as a whole. If you feel slight numbness only a few times over a long period of time, you should not worry too much, because during sleep we can unconsciously take positions that are not entirely comfortable for the normal course of physiological processes. In this situation, you should simply relax your hand, placing it flat, and providing it with maximum blood supply.

However, if numbness in the fingers of your left hand happens to you regularly, this is a very serious reason to consult a doctor.

Constant loss of sensitivity in the fingers cannot be ignored, as this can subsequently lead to dystrophy, tissue trophic disorders, and even gangrenous lesions of the limb.

Numbness of the left little finger

Numbness of the left little finger is often associated with long-term constant tension of the wrist muscles and the muscular system of the entire upper spine. In such cases, as a rule, asymmetry and rotation of the cervical spine are observed, which provokes pinching of the nerve endings. The same pathology can be observed with the lumbar vertebrae.

Also, numbness of the left little finger can be a sign of a pathological process with a bulging of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal without violating the integrity of the fibrous ring. This condition is a certain stage of osteochondrosis, which subsequently develops into an intervertebral hernia.

Quite often, numbness in the left little finger becomes a sign of serious cardiac problems (chronic heart failure or acute coronary syndrome).

To identify the cause of decreased sensitivity in the little finger, it is necessary to undergo appropriate examinations (electrocardiography, X-ray examination or magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine).

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Numbness of the ring finger of the left hand

Numbness of the ring finger of the left hand most often occurs due to compression of the nerve endings in the elbow joint. The articular nerves (median, ulnar and wrist) can be pinched or injured. The ulnar and wrist nerves have a direct relationship with the ring finger of the left hand, which provoke a decrease in sensitivity due to various degenerative-dystrophic changes.

For effective therapeutic actions, it is necessary to trace the root cause of the compression of the nerve fiber, the depth of the process and the exact localization of the nerve lesion.

In the absence of a history of traumatic effects on the hand and elbow joint, the main cause is usually considered to be pinched ulnar nerve, the innervation of which can be disrupted in almost any area, from the spinal column to the fingertips.

Signs of decreased sensitivity in the ring finger on the left hand, accompanied by numbness in the little finger, often indicate problems with cardiac activity.

A neurologist should carry out a full diagnosis and prescribe individual therapeutic measures.

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Numbness of the left thumb

At present, several factors are known that provoke numbness of the thumb of the left hand, among them we can note cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis and cardiovascular diseases.

The most common cause is a metabolic disorder in the intervertebral cartilages of the cervical or thoracic dislocation. Impaired sensitivity of the thumb may be accompanied by weakness of the hand, decreased muscle strength, and sometimes pain on the outside of the shoulder and forearm.

Atherosclerosis, which is characterized by a deterioration in the elasticity of the vascular wall and a narrowing of the lumen, often causes insufficient blood circulation in the tissues, which also manifests itself as numbness in the finger.

Reduced sensitivity of the tip of the thumb can also be caused by a banal vitamin deficiency: this condition is often observed in the winter-spring period and is successfully relieved by taking complex vitamin and mineral preparations and a variety of vegetables and fruits in the diet.

Numbness of the index finger of the left hand

Numbness of the index finger of the left hand may indicate some endocrine disorders (for example, diabetes mellitus or other diseases leading to metabolic disorders), inflammatory processes in the joints, possible injuries and tissue damage.

Pathological processes in the brachial plexus lead not only to numbness, but also to disturbances in the flexion-extension function of the hand and finger.

Degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae (especially the sixth vertebra), cervical muscles and intervertebral discs often cause significant impairment of sensitivity of the index finger and thumb of the left hand. This symptom may be observed against the background of muscle weakness in the hand and discomfort in the forearm.

Numbness of the index finger is often felt by those patients who, due to their professional activities, are forced to endure long-term loads on the upper spine and specifically on the fingers. In such situations, therapeutic exercise and periodic breaks during the working day will help.

Numbness of the middle finger of the left hand

Numbness of the middle finger of the left hand in combination with soreness and paleness of the skin may indicate a sharp spasm of the vascular network of the finger (the so-called Raynaud's disease). This condition develops with prolonged exposure to low temperatures, or as a result of injury.

However, most often, signs of decreased sensitivity of the middle finger are associated with osteochondrosis, may indicate the development of intervertebral hernias, pinched nerve endings, disruption of the structure and trophism of tissues during inflammation and deformation of the joints. Particularly noteworthy is osteochondrosis of the seventh cervical vertebra, which is responsible for the condition of the forearm and innervation of the middle finger.

Each of the intervertebral discs acts as a kind of shock absorber. Osteochondrosis causes damage to these discs, they change their structure and flatten, squeezing nearby tissues and pinching nerve endings, so the clinical manifestations of cervical chondrosis depend on the location of the damaged nerve branch and the localization of the innervated area.

Numbness in fingers of left hand at night

Quite often, patients complain of numbness in the fingers of the left hand at night. There are no age restrictions at the root of this problem, it can bother both the elderly and twenty-year-old youth. Usually, this condition is associated with the incorrect sleeping position of a person and the problem is ignored.

Of course, a comfortable sleeping position is extremely important, but numbness can also be caused by other, more serious processes.

If you work at the keyboard day after day, straining your hands and fingers, then a decrease in sensitivity may be observed precisely because of the constant tension of the muscles and tendons of the wrist, which in turn leads to compression of the nerve endings.

Numbness can also be a symptom of various types of anemia, diabetes, and vitamin deficiency. Such causes are usually treated with exercise therapy, physical therapy, and vitamin supplements.

It is no secret that the scourge of our time is osteochondrosis of the spine, which may not manifest itself as pain in the back and neck, but causes persistent numbness in the fingers, especially at night, when blood circulation processes slow down significantly.

If, in addition to night paresthesia, you are bothered by a constant feeling of cold in the extremities, even in the warm season, then you can suspect a violation of the blood supply to the hands. This condition is called Raynaud's disease.

In principle, all factors that contribute to numbness of the fingers at night can be easily treated; all you need to do is accurately determine the cause of this condition.

Treatment of numbness of the fingers of the left hand

Treatment of numbness in the fingers of the left hand should be carried out by a specialist after a final diagnosis has been made, based on the causes of these symptoms.

Therapy may be prescribed, including the following:

• compensation for vitamin deficiency (B vitamins to improve tissue innervation) in injections or capsules;
• replenishment of microelement deficiencies (for example, calcium);
• taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• painkillers;
• ointments and creams that improve nerve conduction and tissue trophism;
• therapeutic exercises, massage procedures, physiotherapy;
• a salt-free diet with plenty of greens, vegetables and fruits;
• transition to a healthy lifestyle by giving up smoking and drinking alcohol.

During the treatment period, it is recommended to refrain from physical stress on the spine and upper limbs.

You can use folk methods of treating finger numbness on your own:

• contrast baths using cold and hot water for 1 minute each;
• mix hot olive oil with black or red ground pepper, after cooling, rub your fingers several times a day;
• Apply a warming compress of boiled potatoes or porridge to your arm or cervical spine 2 times a day.

And yet, the best treatment is prevention. Try to engage in active sports, spend more time outdoors, eat properly and nutritiously.

When working for a long time on a keyboard, knitting, or during work associated with constant tension in the hands, fingers, and spine, it is recommended to take periodic breaks for rest, trying to relax tense muscles as much as possible during this time.

If you follow these recommendations, the numbness in the fingers of your left hand will disappear without a trace and will not bother you in the future.