numbness & tingling in hands

Dear Doctor,
This past week I was working in the garden with 2 other people shoveling 20 yards of soil within a 2 day time period.  I know I was over-extending myself.  I was a little sore but no real physical pain.  I credit this to my yoga practice.  The one repercussion is a numbness & tingling in my right hand extending up my arm but not into the shoulder.  It is aggravating me because have never experienced this kind of pain before.  Could you please suggest a vitamin or liniment I could use to speed up the healing process.  Or do you think it could be something else?  I appreciate your time.  Thank you,  Leomac

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

No vitamins have been scientifically proven to speed recovery from over-exertion. Glucosamine has some literature for it, but results are mixed. It is mainly used in arthritis. Eating healthy and drinking plenty of fluids would be the most ideal way to speed recovery. If you do decide on a vitamin, a multivitamin would be appropriate for general health. Also, analgesic creams like Ben-Gay or IcyHot would be appropriate to relieve the ache. If you decide on any supplements, you need to let your physician know. Many supplements do interact with medications, and like medications, they too can have side effects.

I am concerned of your description of symptoms – i.e., the numbness of the hand to shoulder. Is the numbness on one side of the hand/arm versus the other? The reason why I ask is that the arm is supplied by various nerve arrangements called dermatomes. If the symptoms fit a particular dermatome, you may need imaging of the neck. You should probably discuss this with your physician to decide if there is actual nerve injury or is just muscle exhaustion.

I recommend that you be seen by your physician if there is no improvement in your symptoms.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.