pain and numbness in hands

[Keke1730]

I have numbness in my hands that becomes painful and then sometimes seems ot travel upp my arm. It happens during the day as well as when I am sleeping. I wake up in the middle of the night because of the pain and numbeness. Could it be poor circulation or something else? It doesn't seem to happen all the time but I do go through periods of this. Please help.

[roper03]

I was in a car wreck it caused whiplash and a head contusion in 2008 and I just had surgery for Herniated Disc I had pain and numbness in my right hand and fingers, in my arm numbness in my elbow pain in between my shoulder blades and across my shoulder, neck stiffness pain in my neck loss of motion in neck and major and many headaches I also had dizzy spells and major sinus problems form it.  I tried PT and chiropractors they were a temporary fix and that was it. I  had a C4- C5 fusion and I also have a bulging disc still in my neck that. I also have 2 herniated disc L4-L5 in my lower back that cause back pain and pain in my hip my back L4-L5 are not from the car wreck but C4-C5 are from the whiplash in the car wreck. I would suggest you go to a neurologist and have it checked out ASAP.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
The numbness could be due to nerve compression. This is possible at various levels. It could be due to compression of the spinal nerves at the cervical spine level or, ulnar nerve at the elbow level. Hypothyroidism, diabetes, tumors and infections of the ulnar and spinal nerves and rheumatism can all cause numbness of little and ring finger. Your symptoms could also be due to carpel tunnel syndrome. In this the median nerve is compressed at the wrist in a place called the carpel tunnel. Symptoms begin with numbness and tingling of the first three or two fingers from the thumb side. Nerve conduction studies are quite diagnostic. Treatment is usually by splints and steroid injections. Surgery may be required in some cases. This condition is common in those who use the key board, mouse etc a lot—like in computers or in typing jobs.
Circulation problems like deep vein thrombosis, atherosclerosis too can these symptoms and can be diagnosed by dopplar studies.
The best thing would be to consult a general practitioner or PCP and try and assess what is the cause of your problem. Then proper referral for concerned specialist can take things further and get you proper treatment. Take care!