Numbness in the right hand

A sudden or gradual decrease in sensitivity of the upper limb is most often seen as numbness of the right hand. The hand, fingers or the entire arm goes numb.

We will discuss why this happens and how to deal with numbness in this article.

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Causes of numbness in the right hand

Most often, numbness occurs in old age, since at this stage of life a person is most susceptible to cardiovascular diseases.

There can be many reasons for loss of sensitivity in the upper limb. Numbness can occur during the day, at night during sleep, or when staying in a motionless position for a long time. Numbness can pass on its own and quickly, but it can also last for several hours or even days.

The most common causes of numbness in the right hand:

• disruption of blood flow in the limb, compression of the nerve (as a rule, this occurs at night, especially if a person rests on an uncomfortable bed in the wrong body position, or sleeps on a pillow that is too high or hard);
• staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time, usually associated with professional activities;
• frequent carrying of heavy objects, uncomfortable bags or suitcases;
• activities associated with a predominantly vertical position of the upper limbs (rock climbing, work as a painter or wallpaperer, etc.);
• staying in a cold room or in freezing temperatures for a long time without the necessary hand protection;
• long-term tension in the muscles of the hand or upper limb.

Usually, minor everyday numbness can be dealt with. All you need to do is periodically change the position of your hands, do light exercises, and restore the impaired blood flow.

Causes of numbness in the fingers of the right hand

If the right hand, and especially its fingers, go numb very often and for a long time, this may be a sign of some disease. The reasons for regular loss of sensitivity in the fingers and upper limb may be:

• osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, herniated discs, cartilaginous pathologies in the spine. In the listed cases, there is compression or pinching of the nerve fibers running from the spine to the right upper limb;
• disruption of blood supply to the brain. This cause can be suspected if the numbness of the arm is observed against the background of high blood pressure or hypercholesterolemia;
• injury to the shoulder girdle or elbow joint, especially accompanied by tissue swelling;
• numbness of the fingers at night may indicate dysfunction of some internal organs, for example, the lungs;
• a state of persistent stress, prolonged neuropsychological tension.

Another reason for the little finger of the right hand to go numb may be compression-ischemic neuropathy, or carpal tunnel syndrome. The essence of the disease is the compression of the median nerve fiber by the bone and tendon elements of the wrist. Usually, such a pathology occurs in people older than middle age, whose work is associated with the monotonous assembly of small parts of something. In addition, musicians, experienced writers and artists, and sign language interpreters may suffer from neuropathy.

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Numbness of the fingers of the right hand

The greatest number of cases of numbness of the fingers of the right hand can be accompanied by the following clinical symptoms:

• feeling of cold fingers;
• burning sensation;
• a feeling of tightness and tingling of the skin;
• when touched, sensitivity is completely or partially impaired.

Numbness in the fingertips of the right hand is often considered a sign of neurovascular disorders, as a result of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae or long-term hypertension.

Numbness of the right hand is a common sign of osteochondrosis changes, indicating the presence of an intervertebral hernia, blood supply disorder, compression of nerve fibers in specific places of their exit, or damage to nerves in deforming arthrosis. Such signs are relevant in metabolic disorders, migraines, and sclerotic changes in blood vessels. Sometimes numbness can indicate a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body.

Numbness of the ring finger of the right hand can be caused by a pinched nerve root, as a result of an awkward position of the hands during complex meticulous work, carrying heavy objects, an awkward sleeping position. Such numbness is eliminated fairly quickly by changing the type of activity or an awkward position of the upper limb. The function of the numb finger is restored, which is accompanied by a feeling of heat and blood flow.

If the numbness occurs frequently and lasts for several minutes in a row, you should consult a doctor, especially if the numbness is accompanied by pain.

Numbness of the little finger on the right hand, especially combined with a flexion disorder, most likely indicates ulnar nerve neuropathy. It should be noted that this disease is more common in right-handed people who use their right hand more actively. However, numbness of the little finger is often one of the first signs of a pre-stroke condition. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to ignore this symptom.

Numbness of the thumb of the right hand is often combined with loss of sensitivity of the index and middle fingers. This happens when, with prolonged tension, swelling of the tendon occurs. Such swelling, in turn, presses on the nearby nerve, which is responsible for the innervation of the palmar surface, as well as the thumb, index and middle fingers. Signs of numbness are most clearly expressed at night, or closer to dawn.

If the thumb goes numb on both the right and left hands at the same time, this may indicate a disorder or displacement of the cervical vertebrae. This condition is often accompanied by weakness of the affected fingers, and rarely by painful sensations in the outer shoulder area and forearm.

Numbness of the middle finger of the right hand is usually associated with pathologies of the elbow joint: diseases of a traumatic, infectious-inflammatory and trophic nature. Most often, these are neuritis, myositis, contractures, bursitis, arthritis or osteoarthrosis. These diseases are mostly associated with trauma to the elbow area, both as a result of sudden and gradual impact of external force on the joint.

Numbness of the index finger of the right hand is often associated with damage to the nerve brachial plexus. Along with the loss of sensitivity, there may be weakness in the grip of the hand, as well as mild pain when trying to bend the hand at the joint.

If the index finger goes numb “in company” with the thumb or middle finger, then this can be considered a symptom of damage to the discs of the spinal column, especially the cervical spine and neck muscles.

It is necessary to realize that the exact diagnosis and causes of numbness of the fingers of the right hand can only be determined by a specialist. In addition to diagnosis, the doctor will be able to prescribe qualified treatment necessary in your case.

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Numbness in the right leg and arm

Simultaneous numbness of the entire right side of the body, and in particular the right arm and leg, accompanied by impaired motor coordination and muscle weakness, can be observed in the following pathologies:

• the initial stage of multiple sclerosis, a severe disease of the central nervous system, in which some areas of the brain's nervous tissue degenerate into connective tissue areas. The disease manifests itself as numbness of body parts, visual impairment, and loss of motor activity. Signs of the pathology often manifest themselves after 35-45 years;
• cerebrovascular accident - a sudden weakening of blood circulation in the brain. The condition is accompanied by numbness of half of the body, loss of consciousness, headache. In most cases, cerebrovascular accident can occur in elderly patients, especially in patients with excess weight, atherosclerotic changes in the vascular system, high blood pressure, heart failure. Cerebrovascular accident can develop into a stroke - hemorrhage in the brain tissue. Therefore, if you suspect a cerebrovascular accident, you must immediately and quickly consult a doctor;
• the presence of a tumor in the brain - can exert mechanical pressure on nearby tissues and nerve endings, which causes numbness in the limbs on the side of the tumor, headaches, and difficulties with motor coordination. Additional symptoms of the pathology include increased intracranial pressure, apathy, loss of appetite, cachexia, etc.

Numbness of the right arm and leg at the same time is a serious signal that something is wrong with the body. Consult a good specialist: in such a situation, you should not waste precious time.

Numbness in the right hand during sleep

Loss of sensitivity in the right hand during sleep may be due to an incorrectly selected pillow or an uncomfortable body position during sleep. Often, the right hand goes numb because a person likes to sleep with his hand under his head or hugging a pillow. In order to get rid of numbness, it is enough to choose a more physiological pillow or change the habit of putting your hands under your head.

However, sometimes numbness in the fingers of the right hand at night can indicate hidden pathologies, and even very serious ones.

The first possible cause of loss of sensitivity is compression of nerve fibers by nearby swollen or spasmodic muscles or tendon areas. This condition can occur with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, scalenus syndrome, and tunnel neuropathy.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is characterized by compression of nerve endings, their swelling, which is accompanied by pain in the muscles of the neck, shoulder girdle and upper limbs.

Scalenus syndrome may be associated with professional activity or with prolonged work on the keyboard. Additional factors in the development of this syndrome may include:

• endocrine system diseases;
• pronounced hormonal fluctuations (pregnancy, menopause);
• excess weight;
• upper limb injury;
• inflammatory processes in the joint capsule.

If the loss of sensitivity in the right hand or fingers does not disappear within 20-30 minutes, you should definitely visit a doctor, or even call an ambulance. Long-term numbness can be caused by diseases of the vascular system:

• nonspecific aortoarteritis;
• obliterating endarteritis;
• atherosclerosis or occlusion of the brachiocephalic arteries.

If numbness at night bothers you too often, you need to get examined. Therefore, the best solution in this situation would be to consult a neurologist.

Numbness in the right hand during pregnancy

Pregnant women, especially in the second and third trimesters, often complain of transient loss of sensitivity in some parts of the body, and in particular, the right hand.

Numbness of the right hand during pregnancy most often occurs due to pressure on the nerve endings of excess fluid accumulating in the tissues. After all, it is no secret that swelling of the limbs often occurs during pregnancy. Numbness due to swelling is characterized by an increase at night and almost complete disappearance during the day.

In most cases, to solve the problem of numbness in the limb, you should do special physical exercises to improve blood circulation in the hands.

In principle, there should be no particular cause for concern: numbness of the hand does not affect the development of the future baby or the course of pregnancy. As a rule, after the birth of the child, all signs of impaired sensitivity disappear without a trace.

However, in order to ease your condition, remember a few simple rules:

• Nightwear should be loose and not contain tight elastic bands that tighten the wrists;
• During the day, try to put less strain on your arms (especially if you knit or like to sit at the computer for a long time);
• if you feel that your hands are going numb, raise your arms up, work your fingers, vigorously move your shoulders. You can simply stretch well, stretching your muscles and filling them with energy;
• In the evening, ask someone at home to massage your hands and shoulder girdle: this will restore normal blood flow in the limbs and serve as a good preventative for numbness.

If the numbness does not go away within a few minutes, be sure to tell your doctor about the problem during your next visit. Additional diagnostics of the disease may be required.

Treatment of numbness of the right hand

Before starting treatment for numbness in the right hand, the doctor must identify the cause of this condition. After all, it is not the numbness that should be treated, but the pathology that caused the loss of sensitivity.

The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment. The help of a vertebrologist, orthopedist and massage therapist may be required.

If numbness is associated with endocrine diseases, such as diabetes, then it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist regarding the correction of the amount of glucose in the blood, as well as undergo a course of preventive vitamin preparations (in particular, vitamins of group B). In addition, it may be necessary to take medications that improve blood circulation in the extremities.

If the numbness is associated with anemia and hypovitaminosis, you should undergo a course of treatment with antianemic drugs and vitamin complexes. It is recommended to do therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy.

Treatment of numbness of the fingers of the right hand may not bring the expected result if you do not follow the generally accepted rules regarding a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition should be healthy, balanced, with a minimum amount of chemicals and coloring substances. You should give up drinking alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, limit coffee consumption. You need to forget about strict diets, switch to a full diet. The body needs meat products, red vegetables and fruits, sea fish, greens, vegetable oil.

It is necessary to ensure that your hands do not freeze in cold weather. You should dress according to the weather.

If the numbness of the right arm is associated with the displacement of the vertebrae in the cervical region, the doctor may prescribe medications that improve metabolic processes in bone tissue, as well as massage, reflexology, and exercise therapy.

Treatment of numbness may consist of physiotherapy sessions: UHF, phonophoresis, diadynamic currents.

If loss of sensitivity is associated with joint diseases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets or ointments may be prescribed. Such drugs include Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen.

You can treat numbness in the right hand using folk remedies.

1. Cook wheat porridge, put it in a plastic bag and apply it hot to the affected area, wrapping it with a woolen scarf on top. Perform the procedure once a day for a week.
2. Dissolve 1 heaping teaspoon of sea or rock salt, 20-30 ml of 10% ammonia, 5 ml of camphor alcohol in 0.5 l of heated water. The solution must be rubbed into the affected area of the limb - fingers, hands.
3. The easiest way to eliminate the symptoms of pain and numbness in the limbs: tie a red woolen thread around your wrists.
4. Mix crushed dry wild rosemary (1 part) with three parts apple cider vinegar. Leave for about a week, strain. Rub the numb part of the hand three times a day.
5. You can simply steam your hands in hot water. It is useful to add a little soda or salt to the water.
6. Eat a mixture of lemon and garlic: this will improve blood circulation and disperse blood in the extremities. Contraindications to using this method: peptic ulcer and a tendency to gastritis.
7. Drink enough water: this will cleanse the vessels, make the blood more liquid and facilitate its movement through the vessels.

Treatment with folk remedies is best carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Prevention of numbness in the right hand

In order to prevent diseases of the cervical spine and to improve blood circulation in the right limb, you can use specially designed physical exercises. Such exercises will eliminate numbness, headaches, and restore the motor ability of the limb.

• Sit on a chair. Take your shoulders with your hands and make circular movements with your shoulder joints forward and backward. Repeat 10-15 times.
• We cross the fingers of the right and left hands, bring them to the back of the head. We hold the elbows straight at the same level. We alternately bring together and spread the elbow joints, up to 15 times.
• We take a vertical position, put our feet shoulder-width apart, hands on our hips. We turn the body to the right and left side 10 times.
• Raise your arms up as you inhale, and slowly lower them as you exhale. Rest.
• Hands on hips, legs shoulder-width apart. Turn your head to the right and left, then tilt it to your shoulders, 10 times.
• Rotate your head clockwise, then counterclockwise. It is better to do the exercise while sitting, monitoring your well-being.
• We walk in place, raising our hips and arms high.
• Raise your arms up, spread them to the sides, up and down again. Repeat 10 times.

Duration of gymnastics is about 15 minutes. If possible, repeat the exercises up to 3 times a day.

Such simple exercises will not only eliminate numbness in the right hand, but will also serve as a good prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, and will also have a beneficial effect on the body as a whole.