Patient education: Hand numbness (The Basics)

What are the parts of the hand? — 

The hand has many parts (figure 1), including:

●Bones – The hand has many small bones.

●Cartilage – This covers the ends of the bones to help the joints glide more easily.

●Ligaments – These are strong bands of tissue that hold bones together.

●Muscles and tendons – Tendons are strong bands of tissue that attach muscles to bones and help move the hand up, down, or sideways.

●Nerves and blood vessels

●Layers of connective tissues and skin

Damage or injury involving any of these structures can lead to hand numbness.

What is hand numbness? — 

This is a loss of feeling in your hand or fingers. You might not feel anything over your palm, the back of your hand, or your fingers.

Other symptoms can include:

●A burning or itching feeling

●Cold hands and fingers

●Feeling "pins and needles"

●Pain in your hand or arm

●Muscle spasms or twitching

You might have numbness in 1 or both hands. It might last for a little while, or it might be permanent.

Hand numbness is not a disease. But it can be a symptom of a health problem.

What can cause hand numbness? — 

Many things can cause hand numbness. Examples include:

●Nerve damage or pressure on the nerves in the neck, arm, or hand

●Poor blood supply to the hand

●An injury to the hand, arm, or fingers, including broken bones

●An injury to the brain, spinal cord, or spinal nerves

●Health problems like diabetes, alcohol misuse, stroke, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disorders, or Raynaud phenomenon

Will I need tests? — 

Maybe. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and do an exam. They will look at your hand and fingers carefully and see how they move and work.

You might also get 1 or more of these tests:

●X-ray, ultrasound, or other imaging tests of your hand, arm, neck, or brain – These create pictures of the inside of the body.

●Blood tests

●Tests to see how well your nerves and muscles work – Examples are nerve conduction and electromyography ("EMG") tests.

How is hand numbness treated? — 

It depends on the cause of your numbness. Once your doctor knows the cause, they will discuss your treatment options.

What can I do on my own? — 

You should:

●Rest your hand if the numbness is due to swelling or an injury:

•Take frequent breaks when doing something with repeated hand motions. Shake out your hands or rub them during breaks.

•If you were given a splint or brace, wear it as instructed.

•Avoid keeping your hands and arms in the same position for a long period of time. Avoid sleeping with your elbows bent and your hands placed under your pillow or head.

●Take medicine to help with pain and swelling, if your doctor told you to – To treat pain, you can take acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol). To treat pain and swelling, you can take ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin).

●Do gentle exercises – If you do not have an injury, doing gentle exercises might help prevent stiffness. Close your fingers to make a fist. Then, straighten your fingers all the way.

●Be careful around heat or cold – You might not be able to feel hot or cold temperatures if you hand is numb. To help prevent injury:

•Be careful around hot surfaces like stoves and ovens. Cover your hand before using hot machines or devices. You could burn your hand without knowing it.

•Be careful in cold weather. Cover your hand before you go outside to avoid getting frostbite.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if:

●Your symptoms do not get better or get worse after a few days of home treatment.

●Your hand gets weak.

●You can't make a fist or straighten your fingers all the way.

●The numbness gets worse, or spreads up your arm or to other parts of your body.

More on this topic

Patient education: Neuropathic pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Peripheral neuropathy (The Basics)
Patient education: Carpal tunnel syndrome (The Basics)
Patient education: Radiculopathy of the neck and back (including sciatica) (The Basics)
Patient education: Hand fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Multiple sclerosis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Raynaud phenomenon (The Basics)
Patient education: Frostbite (The Basics)
Patient education: Nerve conduction and electromyography (EMG) tests (The Basics)

Patient education: Raynaud phenomenon (Beyond the Basics)