What to do About Stiff or Tingling Fingers

Bone & Joint




Tingling, numbness, or stiffness in the fingers can be bothersome and concerning. Although very common in adults, finding the cause behind finger discomfort is important.

Dec. 2, 2021

Experiencing tingling, numbness, or stiffness in the fingers is very common in people of all ages—but it can be nerve-wracking if you don’t know why it’s happening.

There are a variety reasons why someone might experience discomfort in their fingers, ranging from injury to neurological disorders.

“Tingling sensations and stiffness in the fingers can be bothersome. Many people describe the feeling that their fingers are ‘falling asleep’ or are difficult to move. The best thing to do is work with an orthopaedic physician to determine what’s causing that,” said Dr. Jonathan Gabel.

Johnathan Gabel, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon with Rochester Regional Health provides advice on what to do if you’re experiencing finger discomfort and why it might be happening.

What causes tingling, numbness, or stiff fingers?

Injury

Difficulty moving fingers or sensations of tingling or numbness can result from a hand injury, such as a fracture, sprain, or injury to a tendon or muscle. In most cases, other symptoms of hand injury include pain, swelling, redness, and/or bruising.

Arthritis

Those with arthritis commonly experience stiffness in their hands and fingers. In general, these symptoms get worse over time and are accompanied by pain, swelling, and difficulty moving other joints.

Stenosing tenosynovitis

Also called trigger finger, this occurs when the protective layer around the tendons in the finger becomes inflamed, preventing it from moving as freely as it should. Often, people with stenosing tenosynovitis will notice that their finger snaps into a bent or straight position rather than moving slowly. The finger might also lock in the bent position.

Dupuytren’s Contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture, also known as palmar fibromatosis, causes the collagen tissues in the palm to thicken and tighten over time. When this happens, knots in the tissue can pull one or more fingers into a bent position, often affecting the pinkie and ring finger. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome

The carpal tunnel is a small space in the wrist in which several nerves that control the fingers and hands pass through. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when nerves in that space pinch due to irritation or swelling, often as a result of extensive computer work overtime or other overuses of the wrist.

Other causes of tingling or numbness in the fingers can include:

• Fibromyalgia
• Diabetes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Brain or spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Shoulder injury
• Infections
• Chemotherapy side effects
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Raynaud’s phenomenon, a condition that limits blood flow to your skin, usually in the fingers

Relieving finger tingling or stiffness at home

The course of treatment for finger tingling and stiffness largely depends on the cause. However, there are a few options to try at home to relieve discomfort:

1. Ice or heat packs
2. Over-the-counter pain medications, such as NSAIDs
3. Hand and finger stretches

Should I see a doctor if my fingers are stiff or tingling?

If you experience persistent pain, numbness, stiffness, or tingling in your fingers, contact your primary care physician or an orthopaedic specialist who can work with you to determine a proper treatment plan once they diagnose the reason behind your discomfort.

“Finger numbness or stiffness can be a symptom of something that might be affecting many different parts of the body. If you have noticed discomfort in your fingers for a few weeks, be sure to contact a physician.”

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10 Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Written by Rick Ansorge

• Causes of Tingling in the Hands and Feet
• Diagnosis of Tingling Hands and Feet
• Treatments for Tingling Hands and Feet

Tingling hands, feet, or both is an extremely common and bothersome symptom. Such tingling can sometimes be benign and temporary. For example, it could result from pressure on nerves when your arm is crooked under your head as you fall asleep. Or it could be from pressure on nerves when you cross your legs too long. In either case, the “pins and needles” effect — which is usually painless — is soon relieved by removing the pressure that caused it.

But in many cases, tingling in the hands, feet, or both can be severe, episodic, or chronic. It also can come with other symptoms, such as pain, itching, numbness, and muscle wasting. In such cases, tingling may be a sign of nerve damage, which can result from causes as varied as traumatic injuries or repetitive stress injuries, bacterial or viral infections, toxic exposures, and systemic diseases such as diabetes.

Such nerve damage is known as peripheral neuropathy because it affects nerves distant from the brain and spinal cord, often in the hands and feet. There are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy. Over time, the condition can worsen, making you less mobile and even disabled. More than 20 million Americans, most of them older adults, are estimated to have peripheral neuropathy.

It’s important to get medical help right away for any tingling in your hands, feet, or both that’s lasted a while. The earlier the cause of your tingling is found and brought under control, the less likely you are to get what could be lifelong problems.

Diabetes is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy, accounting for about 30% of cases. In diabetic neuropathy, tingling and other symptoms often first develop in both feet and go up the legs, followed by tingling and other symptoms that affect both hands and go up the arms. About two-thirds of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage. In many cases, these symptoms are the first signs of diabetes.

In another 30% of peripheral neuropathy cases, the cause is unknown, or “idiopathic.”

The remaining 40% of cases have a variety of causes such as:

Nerve entrapment syndromes. These include carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve palsy, peroneal nerve palsy, and radial nerve palsy.

Systemic diseases. These include kidney disorders, liver disease, vascular damage and blood diseases, amyloidosis, connective tissue disorders and chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances (including hypothyroidism), and cancers and benign tumors that impinge on nerves.

Vitamin deficiencies. You need vitamins E, B1, B6, B12, and niacin for healthy nerves. A B12 deficiency, for example, can lead to pernicious anemia, an important cause of peripheral neuropathy. But too much B6 also can cause tingling in the hands and feet.

Alcoholism. People who have alcoholism are more likely to lack thiamine or other important vitamins because of poor dietary habits, a common cause of peripheral neuropathy. It’s also possible that alcoholism itself can cause nerve damage, a condition that some researchers call alcoholic neuropathy.

Toxins. These include heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and thallium, and some industrial and environmental chemicals. They also include certain medications — especially chemotherapy drugs used for lung cancer — but also some antiviral and antibiotic drugs.

Infections. These include Lyme disease, shingles (varicella zoster), cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex, and HIV and AIDS.

Autoimmune diseases. These include chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Inherited disorders. These include a group that may have sensory and motor symptoms; the most common type is known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Injury. Often related to trauma, nerves can be compressed, crushed, or damaged in other ways, resulting in nerve pain. Examples include nerve compression caused by a herniated disk or dislocated bone.

Multiple sclerosis. The disease causes your body’s immune system to attack the fatty myelin sheath around nerve fibers in your brain and spine. Tingling in the hands and feet is a common symptom.

If you seek care for your tingling hands or feet, your health care provider will do a physical exam and take an extensive medical history addressing your symptoms, work environment, social habits (including alcohol use), toxic exposure, risk of HIV or other infectious diseases, and family history of neurological disease.

They also may perform other tests, such as:

• Blood tests. These can include tests to detect diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, liver or kidney dysfunction, other metabolic disorders, and signs of abnormal immune system activity.
• An examination of cerebrospinal fluid. This can identify antibodies associated with peripheral neuropathy.
• An electromyogram (EMG), a test of the electrical activity of muscle
• Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)

Other tests may include:

• Computed tomography (CT)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Nerve biopsy
• Skin biopsy to look at nerve fiber endings

Successful treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis and treatment of the cause of the tingling. As long as the peripheral nerve cells have not been killed, they can regenerate.

Although there are no treatments for inherited types of peripheral neuropathy, many of the acquired types can be improved with treatment. For example, good blood sugar control in diabetes can help keep diabetic neuropathy from getting worse, and vitamin supplements can correct peripheral neuropathy in people with vitamin deficiencies.

General lifestyle recommendations include keeping weight in check, avoiding exposure to toxins, following a doctor-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding or limiting alcohol. Recommendations also include quitting smoking, which constricts blood supply to blood vessels supplying nutrients to peripheral nerves.

In some cases, tingling and other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may be eased with prescriptions developed for treating seizures and depression.

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Scientists have found out what tingling in the fingers indicates

https://ria.ru/20210917/vitamin-1750435091.html RIA Novosti, 09/17/2021

Scientists have found out what tingling in the fingers indicates2021-09-17T01:11

2021-09-17T01:11

2021-09-17T11:43

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healthy lifestyle (healthy)

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MOSCOW, September 17 – RIA Novosti. Tingling and numbness of the fingers and toes may indicate a deficiency in the human body of a vital vitamin, writes the British Express edition, citing the results of research by scientists from the University of Michigan Public Health. We are talking about vitamin B12. Its lack can cause nerve damage, which in turn causes discomfort in the arms and legs. Numbness and tingling, experts say, should not be scary, however, if such symptoms are observed too often, you should consult a doctor, undergo an examination and begin treatment. .B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, also called cobalamin. He is not only responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, but is involved in the production of red blood cells and DNA. Deficiency of this nutrient can lead to nerve damage and cause tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, muscle weakness and loss of reflexes. Previously, it was known that a thick and reddened tongue could be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency, a lack of which increases the risk of pernicious anemia.

https://ria.ru/20210310/anemiya-1600542847.html

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MOSCOW, September 17 – RIA Novosti. Tingling and numbness of the fingers and toes may indicate a deficiency in the human body of a vital vitamin, writes the British edition of Express, citing the results of research by scientists from the University of Michigan Public Health.

This is vitamin B ₁₂ . Its deficiency can cause nerve damage, which in turn causes discomfort in the arms and legs.

Numbness and tingling, experts say, should not be frightening, however, if such symptoms are observed too often, you should consult a doctor, undergo an examination and begin treatment.

B ₁₂ is a water soluble vitamin also called cobalamin. He is not only responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, but is involved in the production of red blood cells and DNA. Deficiency of this nutrient can lead to nerve damage and cause tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, muscle weakness and loss of reflexes.

A syndrome that causes a feeling of extreme fatigue is revealed

March 10, 2021, 00:55

It was previously known that a thick and reddened tongue can be a sign of vitamin B deficiency ₁₂ , the lack of which increases the risk of pernicious anemia.

SM-Clinic cardiologist spoke about the causes of hand swelling in adults

Edema of the hands occurs quite often, and can be a manifestation of physiological changes or one of the symptoms of pathology. When should edema alert and where to address the problem?

ALENA PARETSKAYA

Pathophysiologist, immunologist, member

St. Petersburg Society of Pathophysiologists


ANDREY GRACHEV

Leading cardiologist of the holding

SM-Clinic, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

Swelling of the hand is a cause for concern if it occurs frequently or almost daily, is accompanied by additional symptoms, is aggravated or is not eliminated by simple methods.

What you need to know about hand swelling

• Why does the hand swell
• How to relieve swelling
• Questions and answers

Why the hand swells in adults

Swelling of the arm or both at once may be physiological or be a sign of pathology. It may be localized or spread to surrounding tissues. With swelling, the limb increases in volume, discomfort, soreness, and inconvenience when performing precise finger movements may be felt. It is difficult to remove the rings from the fingers or the watch from the wrist.

Swelling in the right or left arm occurs when the blood or lymphatic vessels are compressed by items of clothing during sleep. Swelling of the fingers and hands, which is especially noticeable if you remove rings or watches, occurs after alcohol or excess salty foods, fluids at night.

Right hand

A small local edema, if the mobility of the limb is preserved, is possible with bruises. In the area of ​​​​edema, there may be soreness, redness, bruises or abrasions may appear. If it is a hematoma, the edema will be more pronounced, a seal is determined under the skin, in the center of which fluctuation (fluid movement) is felt. Swelling is typical for sprains in the area of ​​the carpal, elbow or shoulder joint, with torn ligaments or their rupture. Severe pain is characteristic, which increases with movement, if the ligaments are torn, it is almost impossible to move the hand.

Edema is possible with fractures of bones, dislocations of joints. Then there is pain, limb deformity, complete impossibility of movement.

Edema may appear with frostbite of the fingers, burns, infectious processes in the area of ​​the hand, forearm or shoulder.

Left hand

Swelling of the finger of the left hand (as well as the right one) is possible with panaritium – suppuration in the phalanx. If it is a deeper lesion, the edema passes to the hand. Carbuncles or boils on any part of the arm can also lead to swelling. In this case, cyanosis or a purple area with suppuration is visible in the center of the inflamed focus. Edema is possible with suppuration of wounds, erysipelas, purulent arthritis and osteomyelitis.

Joint damage in other forms of arthritis also leads to tissue swelling. With rheumatoid arthritis, the joints of both hands are symmetrically affected, with gout, the fingers swell, with psoriasis, the joints of the fingers and hand.

Edema is typical for joint damage – thrombosis. In addition to edema, a feeling of fullness, pain, thickening of tissues, discoloration of the skin, crawling, and a change in sensitivity are typical.

Morning

Lymphatic edema is possible after operations to remove the mammary gland, if the axillary lymph nodes were excised. Puffiness may increase or appear in the morning with malformations of the lymphatic capillaries, with post-burn scars, thrombophlebitis, lymphadenitis. Without treatment, swelling can become permanent.

Hand edema also occurs against the background of heart failure. In the morning they are minimal, intensify in the evening. In contrast, renal swelling of the hands is most pronounced in the morning and decreases or disappears during the day.

Pregnancy

Puffiness in the fingers or hands is due to hormonal changes, especially as the pregnancy progresses. In the first trimester, a slight swelling of the fingers is typical, which is almost not noticeable. By the third trimester, swelling can be pronounced, making it difficult to wear rings, watches, bracelets. Puffiness gradually disappears in the first days after childbirth.

However, pathological edema associated with hypertension, excess weight gain and the development of preeclampsia is also possible in pregnant women. Then the appearance of protein in the urine, a pronounced weight gain per week, severe swelling of the arms and legs, face, and body are typical.

How to relieve hand swelling in adults

At home or for first aid, you need to give your hand an elevated position.

If this is an injury, the hand should be immobilized with a bandage or splint, a cold compress should be applied to the affected area, and an anesthetic should be taken.

If these are diseases of the joints, it is necessary to use painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs locally and orally. If the swelling develops quickly, with severe pain and dysfunction of the hand, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Doctors can use two options for treating edema – conservative and surgical. It depends on the cause, the severity of the condition, and possible complications. In case of injuries, emergency care, bandages, anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthesia are indicated.

In vascular edema, antispasmodic, angioprotective and phlebotonic drugs are used.

Physiotherapy, gymnastics, massage or manual therapy are also prescribed.

If the injury is serious or severe lesions of blood vessels, bones, joints are detected, the edema is not eliminated, surgical interventions are used.

Popular Questions and Answers

Edema can be a short-term phenomenon and does not threaten anything. But sometimes they are symptoms of dangerous conditions. Andrey Grachev, a cardiologist, helped us figure out the problem.

Why is hand swelling dangerous?

Swelling is often a sign of a serious infection, cancer, heart or kidney problems. And if the swelling is persistent, then the disease has worsened or is rapidly progressing. Edema can be complicated by tissue malnutrition, skin inflammation, stretch marks, and discoloration.

When should I see a doctor for swollen hands?

In any situation when you notice swelling of your hands – in the morning, in the evening or during the day, you need a doctor’s consultation and at least a minimal set of tests and examinations. Edema itself is a symptom of problems in the body, and you need to find out what caused it.

Is it possible to remove swelling of the hands with folk remedies?

There are a number of diuretic decoctions and infusions, but it is extremely dangerous to use them on your own, not knowing what the causes of edema are. This can lead to a worsening of the situation, an electrolyte imbalance, a sharp decrease in pressure, dehydration and malaise.

In addition, various traditional medicines can cause allergies, worsen the condition, negatively affect the effects of the drugs taken and have a number of contraindications for taking. Folk remedies are not equal to the concept of “safe”.

What if only one arm is swollen?

If one arm is swollen, see a surgeon or physician, depending on the suspected cause.