Numbness: limbs, finger, arm, leg go numb

Causes of cold fingers

During the cold season, every person's fingers become cold. However, if your fingers are cold at any time of the year, then this is a sure sign of disturbances in the functioning of the body. This is probably how the body gives signals about some problems inside. In most cases, this problem occurs in women, whose thermoregulation is weaker than in men. There are statistics according to which 9 out of 10 female representatives surveyed have cold fingers.

Content:

• Causes of cold fingers
• Symptoms of cold fingers
• Complications and consequences
• Disease prevention

This often appears between the ages of 15 and 45. Young girls can easily become hypothermic by dressing lightly. Also, smokers often have cold fingers. However, you cannot ignore such a symptom and assume that the problem is insignificant.

The reasons why fingers become cold may also be hidden diseases. As a rule, as a result of impaired blood circulation and its viscosity, the fingers and toes quickly begin to become cold and even numb. The causes may also be diseases of the thyroid gland, nervous system and vascular sclerosis.

With a huge number of causes of cold fingers and toes, the main diseases are the following:

1. Iron deficiency anemia.
2. Thyroid diseases.
3. Diabetes.
4. Atherosclerosis.
5. Osteochondrosis.
6. Raynaud's syndrome, scleroderma.

Iron deficiency anemia is caused by a deficiency of iron in the hemoglobin of the blood. This leads to a failure in the transport of oxygen in the blood and disruption of metabolic processes in cells. Additional signals include pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, fatigue and dizziness, rapid heartbeat and tinnitus. Such disorders can be caused by poor nutrition and poor absorption of iron in the intestines. In order to establish the level of hemoglobin in the blood and make a diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a clinical blood test. It is worth noting that the norm of hemoglobin in the blood of children under 6 years of age is from 110 g/l, and in children over 6 years of age and adults - from 120 g/l. Only after a comprehensive examination does the doctor make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment methods.

Problems with the thyroid gland affect the hormonal functioning of the body. If the body lacks thyroid hormones, the result is a slowdown in metabolic processes. In addition to the sensation of cold fingers, slow reactions, drowsiness and lethargy appear. The patient has a feeling of depression, the face swells, and excess weight appears. There is also constant dryness and flaking of the skin. The feeling of cold may be present all the time, even in warm weather. If these symptoms occur, it is necessary to undergo an examination by an endocrinologist with a mandatory ultrasound of the thyroid gland, as well as a general urine and blood test, and a blood test for hormones. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a computed tomography scan.

Cold hands and feet in diabetes occur as a result of poor circulation. As a result of complications, diabetes leads to strokes, kidney failure and blindness. Therefore, it is important not to ignore the condition in which the fingers and toes are constantly cold and numb. It is necessary to diagnose in the early stages of the disease in order to stop dysfunction of the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of insulin, in time. In addition, a glucose tolerance test must be taken annually after age 45.

Atherosclerosis leads to loss of elasticity of artery walls and disturbances in the blood supply to all organs. This can occur due to poor diet with large amounts of fatty foods, stress and an inactive lifestyle, and can also be a genetically determined factor. Additional signs of the disease may include headache, memory loss, dizziness and tinnitus. For timely detection and treatment of the disease, it is necessary to undergo an ECG, measure blood pressure, do an ultrasound of the heart and blood vessels, and take a blood test for lipid profile and sugar.

With osteochondrosis, the fingers and toes may also be constantly cold and numb. Additional symptoms may include constant aching back pain, headaches and dizziness. Osteochondrosis occurs as a result of changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs, which leads to compression of the nerve roots and blood vessels. As a result, blood circulation is disrupted. If you suspect osteochondrosis, you should contact a neurologist who will prescribe a comprehensive examination and treatment.

With scleroderma, your fingers and toes may become cold, numb, and tingly. The skin becomes bluish for a while. When the attack passes, the skin becomes red and there is heat and pain. Damage to blood vessels affects the functioning of many organs and tissues in the body. It is worth noting that women are susceptible to this disease 5 times more often than men. To accurately determine the diagnosis, you must contact a rheumatologist, who will refer you for a comprehensive examination and treatment.

These main causes of cold fingers may start out harmless and unnoticed, but can have serious consequences if ignored.

The most dangerous reasons

Paresthesia can occur not only due to pathology of the nervous system, but also due to the cardiovascular system. After all, in order to maintain heat throughout the body, the heart pushes out blood, which is distributed to all organs and systems.

The most dangerous disease that causes numbness in the fingers of the left hand is myocardial infarction. If there is a blockage of the aorta or coronary vessels, then blood stops flowing at normal speed to the left upper limb. This leads to numbness in the fingers.

It is also dangerous if a blood clot has formed in large vessels. When separated from the wall of the vessel, it begins to “travel” through the cardiovascular system until it finds a bottleneck, most often these are the vessels that feed the fingers. If, in addition to numbness, your fingers begin to change their color to dark, then urgently call an ambulance, otherwise you may lose a limb.

Another dangerous cause of numbness is stroke. The brain is responsible for all innervation in every part of the body. It often happens that during a stroke, one half of the body simply “turns off”: it becomes difficult to lift the limbs, numbness appears in the right or left half of the body.

Symptoms of cold fingers

In the absence of external irritants, cold fingertips are a manifestation of pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination of the body to accurately determine the cause of the disease. Negative symptoms that require you to consult a doctor are:

1. There is numbness in the fingers without external irritants.
2. Pale and bluish tint of the skin even at high temperatures.
3. Constant tingling sensation at the tips of the fingers.
4. There is difficulty moving, difficulty speaking.
5. The presence of dizziness, pain in the arms, fatigue and general weakness.

If there is an unreasonable loss of sensitivity in the fingers, the problem most likely lies in the pathology of the nerve endings and blood vessels.

Additional symptoms may include:

1. Cold feet.
2. Rough, tight skin.
3. The appearance of blisters and open sores.
4. Tingling or numbness in the hands.

Symptoms appear differently at different stages. Conventionally, the stages can be divided into three stages. At the first stage, there is an increase in the tone of the vascular walls, which leads to short-term spasms of the fingers. In the second stage, the hands may become swollen or blue, accompanied by severe pain. The third stage occurs after 3-4 years with signs of skin necrosis on the fingertips. As a result of poor blood circulation, wounds on the hands take a long time to heal and ulcers can form.

Causes of numbness

There are many reasons why this happens, some of them minor and some life-threatening. First, let's figure out what numbness is.

Paresthesia, or a feeling of numbness, is a neurological symptom associated with changes in sensitivity due to damage to the transmission of nerve impulses. Each finger is innervated by a separate nerve, including from the back or palmar part. Thus, the index fingers on the back of the hand are innervated to the fingertips by the ulnar nerve, and on the palmar side and the remaining parts by the median nerve.

From this we can make a simple conclusion that one of the causes of numbness in the left index finger may be damage to the ulnar or median nerves on the left side. This may be due to an injury to the left limb, as well as a long stay in an uncomfortable position in which the left arm is pinched.

The passage of a nerve impulse may be difficult from another part of the body - the neck. The cervical segments of the spinal cord are also responsible for the functioning of the upper limbs. Therefore, with osteochondrosis, a hernia of the cervical spine, paresthesia in the left hand is possible.

Sometimes our body responds to prolonged stress with paresthesia. For example, with prolonged monotonous work with the hands, a “tunnel” syndrome occurs, in which numbness of the fingers, pain, or minor twitching may occur.

Complications and consequences

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Cold fingers and toes can lead to certain consequences and complications. As a result of prolonged numbness and the progression of this condition, the muscles may atrophy, and the sensitivity of the tissues in the hands may be impaired. If these signs are ignored and the disease is not treated, then with constant numbness in the hands there may be irreversible consequences, chronic pain in the hands, and lack of sensitivity in them. Therefore, it is extremely important to consult a doctor in time to diagnose and treat the disease.

Why does the tip of my index finger go numb?

The end of the index finger on the left hand or its pad becomes numb as a result of:

• Constant stress on the neck and back;
• Growing hernia between the vertebrae;
• Negative changes in the vertebrae of the back, their damage;
• Progression of osteochondrosis or spondylosis, osteophytosis and protrusions;
• Effects of ischemic diseases;
• Blood stagnation in tissues;
• Increase in atherosclerotic plaques;
• Carpal tunnel syndrome;
• Polyneuropathy with radial nerve neuropathy;
• Compression of nerves and vascular plexuses;
• Deterioration of heart condition;
• Iron deficiency, hemolytic, folate deficiency anemia, apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, oncology;
• Low iron levels, gout and increased blood sugar;
• Diffuse toxic goiter, multiple sclerosis, vascular angiopathy.

Numbness is characteristic of low immunity, hypothyroidism, and diabetes. The pathology is associated with the effects of Raynaud's disease, thrombosis, pre-infarction condition, ischemic heart damage, brain pathology, intoxication, and the growth of hygroma.

Diagnostics

Patients with complaints of chilly hands should be examined by a neurologist to rule out the most common causes of discomfort. If necessary, the doctor gives a referral to an endocrinologist, vascular surgeon, or orthopedist-traumatologist. First, a standard neurological examination is performed to check the sensitivity and motor activity of the hands. For diagnostic purposes, the following instrumental and laboratory methods are used:

• X-ray diagnostics.
  In photographs of the hands, attention is paid to the condition of the bones of the wrist, the presence of narrowing of the carpal tunnel or other deformities in this area. To confirm osteochondrosis as the cause of chilliness, radiography or computed tomography of the spine is prescribed.
• Electroneuromyography.
  An electrophysiological study allows you to detect the location of nerve damage, determine the extent of the pathological process and the degree of severity. ENMG is informative when it is necessary to differentiate vascular and neurological disorders and to identify vibration disease at an early stage.
• Angiography.
  X-ray examination with contrast is recommended to visualize the vascular bed and identify signs of Raynaud's syndrome. The doctor detects a lack of collateral circulation, depletion of the capillary network, tortuosity and periodic narrowing of small arteries.
• Lab tests.
  To assess thyroid function, blood is tested for T3, T4 and TSH. If necessary, a histological examination of organ biopsies is performed. To exclude autoimmune processes, a blood test is performed for antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and other specific markers.

Electromyography

Treatment

Help before diagnosis

It is necessary to exclude alcohol and smoking, which provoke vasospasm and coldness of the extremities. Nutrition should be varied and balanced, contain sufficient amounts of vitamins. You should stop wearing bracelets, watches and tight cuffs, which impair blood circulation in the distal part of the arms. In the cold season, you need to wear gloves made of natural materials; in severe frost, limit your stay outside.

Patients are recommended to do contrasting hand baths, gradually getting used to high and low temperatures. Self-massage of the hands helps improve blood circulation. If chilliness and accompanying symptoms are caused by an occupational disease, you need to change your place of work. If you experience discomfort or pain in your hands, sensory disturbances, or limited movement, you should consult a doctor.

Conservative therapy

Drug treatment methods are selected taking into account the underlying disease. For vascular disorders and Raynaud's syndrome, therapy is carried out with calcium antagonists and antiplatelet agents. Medicines dilate small vessels of the upper extremities, prevent ischemia and vasospasm, so episodes of chilliness and numbness in the hands occur much less frequently. To enhance the effect, the treatment regimen is supplemented with selective serotonin receptor blockers.

Neurological causes of pathology require the prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs from the category of NSAIDs and systemic corticosteroids. To reduce discomfort, sedatives and tranquilizers are recommended. To improve nerve transmission and eliminate chilliness, injections of B vitamins are indicated. If symptoms are caused by hypothyroidism, hormone replacement therapy is selected.

Physiotherapy methods play an important role in the treatment of chilly hands. For effective medicinal effects on the affected area, electrophoresis or phonophoresis is used. For chronic neurological diseases, electromyostimulation and reflexology are used to increase the speed of nerve transmission and increase muscle strength. Myofascial massage helps to cope with pain and impaired motor function.