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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does Severe Numbness In The Fingers Indicate?

I am being awakened at night with severe numbness in my thumb and forefinger making my fingers feel like blocks of wood. I am not sleeping on my arm, it is resting at my side while I sleep on my back. It takes 5-10 minutes of shaking my hand/arm, rubbing my fingers to dissipate.
Mon, 8 Jan 2018
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
I understand your concern. I would like more information for being more clear about what I will say. Reading about your problem make me think about a carpal tunnel syndrome. One of the symptoms of this syndrome it is numbness in the thumb and index finger more common and middle finger and half of the ring finger also. It first notice symptoms at night and get relief by shaking your hand.( exactly as you describe). Pressure on the median nerve causes carpal tunnel syndrome. This pressure can come from swelling or anything that makes the carpal tunnel smaller. There are some chronic disease which can swell the wrist ( as diabetes, arthritis, hypothyroidism etc) but also making the same hand movements over and over, especially if the wrist is bent down (your hands lower than your wrists), or making the same wrist movements over and over. That' s why I would like more information, but I hope that my answer is helpful to you.
Best Regards,
Dr Eniola
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What Does Severe Numbness In The Fingers Indicate?

Hello, I understand your concern. I would like more information for being more clear about what I will say. Reading about your problem make me think about a carpal tunnel syndrome. One of the symptoms of this syndrome it is numbness in the thumb and index finger more common and middle finger and half of the ring finger also. It first notice symptoms at night and get relief by shaking your hand.( exactly as you describe). Pressure on the median nerve causes carpal tunnel syndrome. This pressure can come from swelling or anything that makes the carpal tunnel smaller. There are some chronic disease which can swell the wrist ( as diabetes, arthritis, hypothyroidism etc) but also making the same hand movements over and over, especially if the wrist is bent down (your hands lower than your wrists), or making the same wrist movements over and over. That s why I would like more information, but I hope that my answer is helpful to you. Best Regards, Dr Eniola