Are you experiencing feelings of numbness in your hands? Do you know what could be causing it? Sometimes symptoms such as tingling, discomfort, or numbness could be a sign that something bigger is going on under the surface. Regardless of the cause, the important thing is to not ignore numbness in hands (or any medical symptom) because it could be a warning sign from your body.
Possible Causes of Numbness in Hands
Numbness in hands could be caused by a variety of factors. These factors range from nerve damage to symptoms from certain diseases. Here are some of the more common reasons why you might be experiencing numbness:
- Damaged or irritated nerve in the wrist
- Damaged or irritated nerve in the arm
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Thyroid disorders
- Spinal cord injury
- Tennis elbow
If you are experiencing numbness in your fingers and hands, it’s important to consult a physician to ensure you don’t have any of the above health issues, as they could be the cause.
How to Treat Hand Numbness
If you are experiencing numbness in your hands due to a disease such as diabetes or a thyroid disorder, your doctor might put you on a medication or diet regimen. However, if the cause is irritated or damaged nerves, tight muscles, tennis elbow, or carpal tunnel, your physician might recommend the following:
- Visit to a specialist (such as a hand doctor)
- Referral to a physical and hand therapy clinic
If your doctor refers you to a physical and hand therapy clinic, you can expect your condition to be treated with the use of strengthening exercises, stretching, and other non-surgical methods. A licensed hand therapist can help you to get to the root of the numbness or pain and work to eliminate the symptoms.
Plus, hand therapists may choose to put your hand or wrist in a splint in order to let irritated muscles or tendons fully rest and heal. At Desert Hand Therapy, we manufacture custom-made splints and braces for our patients’ specific needs.
Be sure to consult a physician.
Most importantly, if you are experiencing something as serious as numbness in your hands, it’s time to consult a physician. They will be able to properly diagnose you and help you create a plan of action for healing. It’s time to stop ignoring these symptoms and get back to the life you love!
