The little finger and ring finger on the left hand are numb: reasons, what to do

Main reasons

There are two large groups of causes of numbness in the fingers on the left hand, which you can learn about below.

The main ones.

• Doctors say that such symptoms cause problems with the musculoskeletal system: osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, injuries and heavy loads on the vertebrae. All this causes compression of blood vessels and nerve processes. The person feels pain and goosebumps.
• Cerebral ischemia. Due to impaired blood flow, a deficiency of oxygen appears in the cells, which a person feels as numbness.
• A non-physiological posture may also be an explanation.
• Non-pathological reasons: carrying a child or squeezing the wrist with accessories.

Additional.

When wearing backpacks and bags, at low temperatures, or with the arm positioned for a long time above chest level, the plexus of nerve processes and blood vessels is compressed, which disrupts blood circulation and causes spasm of the arteries.

Why do my fingers go numb?

Physiological reasons

In a healthy person, numbness in the fingers occurs due to prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, caused by compression of blood vessels, and local circulation disorders.
The symptom appears when waking up after sleep with a hand placed under the pillow or under the head. It can be observed when resting on your back with your arms behind your head. Combined with tingling, feeling of “disobedience” of the hand. It goes away on its own within 5-10 minutes. Another reason for numbness in the fingers is prolonged exposure to the cold. The decrease in sensitivity is caused by vasospasm and may be accompanied by aching pain. It is considered a sign indicating the possibility of developing frostbite in the absence of warming measures.

Neuropathies

Numbness is one of the first symptoms of neuropathy. In the initial stages it appears periodically, accompanied by a feeling of tingling, “crawling goosebumps”. Subsequently, hypoesthesia becomes permanent, accompanied by pain, muscle weakness, changes in the skin and soft tissues. The area of ​​numbness is determined by the affected nerve:

• Radial nerve neuropathy.
  When the nerve trunk is involved in the upper third of the shoulder, sensitivity in the area of ​​1, 2, and partially 3 fingers is impaired. When affected at the level of the forearm, hypoesthesia occurs only on the back of the fingers.
• Ulnar nerve neuropathy.
  On the palmar surface, the little finger and half of the ring finger are numb, on the back - half of the 3rd finger, completely 4-5 fingers.
• Median nerve neuropathy.
  On the palmar side, numbness appears in the 1st-3rd and half of the 4th fingers; on the dorsal side, sensitivity decreases in the area of ​​the nail phalanges of the 2nd-5th fingers.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
  Damage to the median nerve due to compression in a narrow bone canal is manifested by numbness of 1-3 fingers.

Polyneuropathy

Multiple neuropathies occur in some rheumatic and oncological diseases, severe kidney and liver diseases. They can be provoked by severe infectious processes, occupational hazards, and exogenous intoxications. There is symmetrical involvement of the limbs. The causes of numbness are:

• chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy;
• neural amyotrophy of Charcot-Marie-Tooth;
• Roussy-Lévy syndrome;
• Refsum's disease;
• alcoholic polyneuropathy;
• polyneuropathy of pregnancy;
• neuroacancytosis;
• neuroAIDS;
• polyneuropathy with systemic vasculitis.

Numbness of fingers

Diabetes

Diabetic neuropathy is a special case of polyneuropathy. Can be diagnosed in patients with any form of diabetes. The likelihood of developing neuropathy depends on the duration and severity of the underlying disease. The pathology is manifested by numbness, burning, tingling, pain, short-term cramps, distorted perception of temperature and tactile stimuli, and muscle weakness. The hands suffer less than the feet.

Other neurological pathologies

Numbness of the fingers is included in the clinical picture, but, as a rule, is not a leading symptom in the following diseases:

• Cervical plexitis.
  Develops with osteochondrosis of the spine, intervertebral hernia. It becomes a consequence of birth trauma, fractures, bruises and subluxations of the cervical spine, and some infectious diseases (sore throat, flu, tuberculosis). It is formed due to compression of the nerve plexus by a cervical rib or enlarged lymph nodes.
• Brachial plexitis.
  The causes of damage to the brachial plexus are injuries to the clavicle and shoulder joint, compression by lymph nodes, aneurysm or tumor, compression in bedridden patients and people using crutches, infectious, dysmetabolic diseases.
• Horner's syndrome.
  Damage to sympathetic nerve fibers occurs against the background of brachial plexus blockade, improper drainage placement, Pancoast cancer, aortic aneurysm, multiple sclerosis, otitis media, and thyroid diseases.

Persistent numbness of the fingers may be a consequence of damage to the spinal cord and brain due to spinal cord injury, head injury or hemorrhage. Other possible provoking factors are malignant and benign brain tumors, neurorheumatism. Short-term hypoesthesia occurs in the presyncope period in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope.

Raynaud's syndrome

Paroxysmal ischemia of the hands in typical cases is most clearly manifested in the area of ​​2 and 4 fingers. First, there is numbness, coldness and paleness of the fingers, then - swelling, burning, aching pain. The attack ends with a feeling of heat and sharp redness of the fingers. Raynaud's syndrome is detected in the following cases:

• Rheumatic diseases
  : SLE, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic vasculitis.
• Neurological pathologies
  : diencephalic disorders, damage to the sympathetic ganglia, compression of the neurovascular bundles.
• Other conditions
  : hematological and endocrine diseases, systematic hypothermia, vibration disease.

Traumatic injuries

Short-term numbness of the hand is possible with any injury accompanied by significant swelling of the limb; it develops against the background of vascular compression. Loss of sensitivity in combination with intense pain that is not relieved by non-narcotic analgesics indicates the development of a serious complication - myofascial compartment syndrome, which requires urgent medical attention to preserve the viability of the limb.

A special case of compression due to injury is the increase in swelling in the first days after fixing the arm in a plaster cast. The fingers become numb, turn blue, and become sausage-shaped due to swelling. The patient complains of strong pressure from the cast. The symptom disappears after loosening the bandage, which should be done in a trauma room.

In case of wounds with a violation of the integrity of the nerve trunks, numbness of the fingers develops immediately after the injury and is combined with movement disorders. The area of ​​loss of sensitivity corresponds to the area of ​​hypoesthesia with neuropathy of the corresponding nerve.

Other reasons

Diseases and pathological conditions accompanied by numbness of the fingers include:

• Hypertonic disease.
  The symptom appears with a persistent increase in systolic pressure above 140-160 mmHg. Art., combined with swelling of the hands, redness of the face, sweating, and prolonged pain in the heart area.
• Anemia.
  Hypoesthesia of the fingers is complemented by malaise, weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, headache, and impaired concentration. Dizziness and fainting are possible.
• Lack of vitamins.
  Vitamin B1 deficiency in the peripheral form of beriberi is manifested by weakness, numbness of the feet and hands, and difficulty in minor operations requiring fine movements of the fingers. Lack of B12 provokes peripheral neuropathy.
• Takayasu's disease.
  Numbness of the fingers with nonspecific aortoarteritis is potentiated by ischemia of the upper extremities. Sensory disturbances are complemented by coldness, absence or weakening of the pulse in the arteries of the limb.
• Dercum's disease.
  Multiple lipomas compress the cutaneous branches of the peripheral nerves, resulting in pain, numbness of the fingers, and impaired fine motor skills.
• Mental disorders
  . Temporary numbness of the fingers (more often paroxysmal) is observed with panic attacks, phobic disorders, and hysterical neurosis. Sometimes it is combined with tremor, coldness, and a feeling of crawling goosebumps.

What is the body saying?

Suddenly my fingers lost sensitivity. If this is a rare phenomenon and it disappears after 2 - 3 minutes, then there is nothing to fear. If such sensations bother you often, then this is a signal of a developing disease.

• Little finger. Paresthesia indicates chronic heart failure and other cardiac pathologies.
• Forefinger. Goes numb with diabetes, occupational stress, inflammation in the joints.
• Thumb. Metabolic processes in the spine are clearly disrupted. You may feel pain in the forearm and weakness in the arm muscles.
• Middle finger. Raynaud's disease, hernia, articular deformity, osteochondrosis of the 7th vertebra.
• Nameless. Numbness due to the fact that the nerve endings in the bend of the elbow are compressed.

Types of tunnel syndrome

The syndrome can manifest itself in several generally accepted forms.

1. In the median nerve:
   carpal tunnel syndrome (carpal tunnel, carpal tunnel);
2. pronator syndrome (Seyfarth syndrome, “newlywed (honeymoon, lovers) paralysis");
3. supracondylar syndrome (Coulomb, Lord and Bedosier syndrome, Straser's band syndrome).
4. In the ulnar nerve:
   Guyon's syndrome (Guyon's bed syndrome, ulnar carpal syndrome, compression-ischemic neuropathy of the distal part of the ulnar nerve);
5. cubital syndrome (ulnar tunnel syndrome, compression neuropathy of the ulnar nerve in the cubital canal, late ulnar-cubital traumatic palsy).
6. In the radial nerve:
   syndrome of compression of the radial nerve in the armpit (“crutch paralysis”);
7. syndrome of compression of the radial nerve in the middle of the shoulder (spiral canal syndrome, “Saturday night paralysis”, “park bench”, “bench” syndrome);
8. compression syndrome of the radial nerve in the subulnar area (“tennis elbow”, compression neuropathy of the posterior branch of the radial nerve in the subulnar area, supinator syndrome).

Treatment methods

In modern medicine, there are several effective methods for treating numbness in the fingers of the left hand.

• Drug therapy. This method involves the use of products selected by a specialist, in the form of ointments, preparations and creams. Which can relieve inflammation, swelling and pain.
• Therapeutic massage and manual therapy.
• Using ultrasound or laser. This will help restore damaged tissue and lost sensitivity.
• Special exercises and health-improving physical education. This will help improve blood circulation and the general condition of the body.

How does numbness in the fingers manifest under various conditions?

Typically, numbness is most felt in the fingertips.

Preventing finger numbness

As with most neurological diseases, preventive measures boil down to the following:

• Maintain an active lifestyle. Do exercises and don’t forget about daily physical activity;
• Listen to your body and undergo timely medical examinations to identify pathology at an early stage;
• Periodically get tested and undergo examination of the vascular system;
• Try to eat healthy and balanced. Don't forget to take your vitamins.

The main thing to remember is that the body always warns in advance about changes, and does not suddenly get sick. Few people notice problems that are just beginning; most often they do not pay attention to it, hoping that everything will go away on its own. Lack of time, fear of doctors and injections, reduction of the importance of what is happening ultimately lead to the disease becoming much worse, treatment time taking much longer, or the consequences can cost lives.