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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Numbness In The Left Arm After An Injury?

My husband does foundation/concrete work and while at work a piece of metal flew out and hit him on the inside of his left arm, proximal to the elbow. He started bleeding, a lot, with only a small puncture to the area. It has been a few days and he now has bruising above the puncture and says he has been feeling some numbness/tingling going down into his hand. His entire medial side of his arm is extremely sensitive to the touch. He has also said he is feeling weak and sluggish.
Mon, 29 May 2017
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Anesthesiologist,  's  Response
I have gone through your question and it looks like the piece of metal have caused a transient damage to the ulnar nerve in his hand.
I hope after the injury a medical consultation is done and the required tetanus prophylaxis and antibiotics have been taken.
The ulnar nerve which supplies the small muscles of our hand, take a superficial course near the inner aspect of our elbow. So if he has a tingling sensation in his little finger and inner half of ring finger it can be a ulnar nerve damage. Considering the velocity of injury it looks like a transient nerve damage, but it is better to consult a orthopedician and assess the degree of nerve injury. The transient damage due to nerve conduction blockade(neuropraxia) usually recovers in weeks. A splint need to be used as advised by your orthopedician.
Thank you
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What Causes Numbness In The Left Arm After An Injury?

I have gone through your question and it looks like the piece of metal have caused a transient damage to the ulnar nerve in his hand. I hope after the injury a medical consultation is done and the required tetanus prophylaxis and antibiotics have been taken. The ulnar nerve which supplies the small muscles of our hand, take a superficial course near the inner aspect of our elbow. So if he has a tingling sensation in his little finger and inner half of ring finger it can be a ulnar nerve damage. Considering the velocity of injury it looks like a transient nerve damage, but it is better to consult a orthopedician and assess the degree of nerve injury. The transient damage due to nerve conduction blockade(neuropraxia) usually recovers in weeks. A splint need to be used as advised by your orthopedician. Thank you