Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: left pinky finger asleep
Forum: The Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum
Topic Area:
Posted by CCF Neuro MD on January 13, 1998 at 08:11:18:
In Reply to: left pinky finger asleep posted by Brandon Lessley on January 13, 1998 at 04:16:09:

: I am a 23 year old male, when i woke up a few mornings ago, i noticed my left little finger was asleep. I didn't think much of it, but problem is it has been asleep for 3 days now and is really annoying.
It is not completely numb or anything, just tingles like it's asleep, and it is only in that finger, no part of any other fingers or the hand, occasionally it will radiate to about an inch or two below
finger. is this a pinched nerve? Will it go away? It occasionally stops for a few miniutes, but returns. I am double jointed in all of my fingers, and my left wrist pops very easily. I vaguely remeber
bumping my elbow against something a few days ago and causing the funnybone type sensation where your arm goes numb, tingles briefly. I'm not sure though, I may be thinking of something longer ago.
I would appreciate any feedback you may have on this probably minor but annoying problem.


The nerve which supplies the little finger is the ulnar nerve.
Its distribution is variable and it often supplies the adjacent
half of the ring finger also and the area just below the finger.
The ulnar nerve is also the nerve at the elbow which causes
the funny-bone sensation when it is compressed suddenly.
Severe damage to the ulbar nerve would be expected to cause weakness
of the hand muscles, in particular the muscles involved in spreading
or bringing the fingers together.
It sounds like you may have compromised a small branch of the ulnar nerve
innsome mechanical fashion, without any waekness the lesion is probably
not too severe. If this does not settle down in a few days you should
have it checked out further, but from your description it certainly sounds
as though the a small branch of the ulnar nerve is involved.

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options of your specific medical condition.
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