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1625195 tn?1332178662

Left hand numbess in fingers and pain in index finger

For the past week, my left arm (elbow and below) has been acting wonky. My elbow has been aching mildly. The arm itself, feels fine, up until the wrist where there is small pain near the outer joint of the wrist. My pinky, connected to the aching joint, is fine. There is little to no numbness. The ring finger is the same as well. But my middle finger, index finger and thumb are definitely numb and slightly swollen. My index finger, though, is the only finger experiencing some pain along with the numbness and swelling.  

Things to note:

I did not bang my elbow on anything. I have rested it while sitting at my computer and have been bending it and actively using my left arm where my left arm has had to bend fast and flex out with more than ten pounds (lifting and putting away groceries mostly).

My left elbow occasionally makes popping / cracking noises when bending/flexing.

My left wrist, whenever rotating it (as in always) makes popping / cracking noises (even when it is not aching).

When my left arm is hanging limp at my side, the pain in my index finger increases.

When I raise my left arm, the numbness turns to non-painful "tingling".

I do not have a great grip in my left hand when my elbow / wrist act up like this.

-----

Does anyone know what this could be?

or

Does anyone know anything that can help ease this / make it go away? (like elbow/wrist exercises)
3 Responses
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4851940 tn?1515694593
:)
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1625195 tn?1332178662
Thank you for taking your time to respond.
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4851940 tn?1515694593
The popping noises that you hear in the bones is called crepitus.

The numbness and pins and needles that you are experiencing sounds like a carpal tunnel problem.  The carpal can get inflamed or thickened and pinches the nerves inside of it that send messages from the brain to the fingers.

The arm problem may also be from tendon problems.

You need to support the wrist.  You can buy wrist splints for this.  Or bandage half the arm, wrist and hand to give support.  You need to rest the arm and hand.  Repetitive work and working at the computer will make it much worse.

See your doctor for the correct diagnosis.  The doctor will be able to send you for nerve conduction tests to see if it is a carpal tunnel problem.

Best wishes.
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