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What Causes Numbness In Fingers And Palms?
Question: I am having numbness in my pinky, and ring finger on my hand. It started 4 days ago. Also my palm is numb the width of my two fingers to the bottom of where my wrist starts. I have not had any pain with this. What might be causing this?
Brief Answer:
maybe due to ulnar nerve neuropathy- abnormal function of ulnar nerve
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The symptoms may be due to neuropathy. This refers to abnormal function of the nerves and it can be temporary or permanent.
There are different nerves that supply various aspects of the upper limb, with three nerves being responsible for nerve supply in the hand.
The nerve responsible for the 5th and 4th fingers is the ulnar nerve so this would be ulnar neuropathy.
It can be due to changes at the elbow or wrist. These changes may compress or cause other problems with the ulnar nerve.
Some possible causes at the elbow are: trauma to the elbow, arthritis at the elbow, blood taking/phlebotomy, diabetes, smoking
At the wrists causes include: trauma, presence of a mass, idiopathic- cause not known
Thyroid disease, vitamin b12/folate lack, liver or kidney disease, infection such as shingles- can also cause neuropathy
In most persons there is no severe cause found.
It would be best to be seen sooner by a doctor if possible to assess the hand and determine if it is the ulnar nerve and the possible causes.
There are medications that can help reduce the numbness but additional treatment would depend on the exact cause found.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
maybe due to ulnar nerve neuropathy- abnormal function of ulnar nerve
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The symptoms may be due to neuropathy. This refers to abnormal function of the nerves and it can be temporary or permanent.
There are different nerves that supply various aspects of the upper limb, with three nerves being responsible for nerve supply in the hand.
The nerve responsible for the 5th and 4th fingers is the ulnar nerve so this would be ulnar neuropathy.
It can be due to changes at the elbow or wrist. These changes may compress or cause other problems with the ulnar nerve.
Some possible causes at the elbow are: trauma to the elbow, arthritis at the elbow, blood taking/phlebotomy, diabetes, smoking
At the wrists causes include: trauma, presence of a mass, idiopathic- cause not known
Thyroid disease, vitamin b12/folate lack, liver or kidney disease, infection such as shingles- can also cause neuropathy
In most persons there is no severe cause found.
It would be best to be seen sooner by a doctor if possible to assess the hand and determine if it is the ulnar nerve and the possible causes.
There are medications that can help reduce the numbness but additional treatment would depend on the exact cause found.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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