Table of contents:
- Various causes of numb hands
- 1. Carpal tunnel syndrome
- 2. Ganglion cysts
- 3. Multiple sclerosis
- 4. Thyroid disorders
- 5. Stroke
- 6. Guillain-Barre syndrome
- 7. Alcohol addiction
The hand has the most sensitive nerves of touch and is directly connected to the brain as a signal receiver. Rob Danoff, DO, director of family medicine at the Philadelphia Aria Health System states that if a part of a nerve is pinched or damaged, the brain cannot receive all the sensory information your hand sends. As a result, the hand is numb including your fingers. So, what causes numb hands?
Various causes of numb hands
1. Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common causes of numbness of the hand. This condition occurs when the median nerve is pinched, which is the nerve that crosses and passes through the wrist in the form of a carpal tunnel.
This condition causes tingling, numbness, or a stabbing pain along the wrist to the upper arm. Usually it is the thumb, middle finger, index finger, and palm area that are the most painful.
This disease generally affects people who work with their hands with repetitive movements for a long time.
2. Ganglion cysts
Ganglion cysts are noncancerous lumps that can form anywhere on the body. But usually, this condition appears around the joints or sheaths covering the tendons (the tissue that connects muscles to bones).
Generally, ganglion cysts appear on the top of the wrist, the palm side of the wrist, the base of the fingers on the palm side, and the top of the finger tip joints.
It is usually round in shape and filled with a jelly-like liquid. Ganglion cysts can make your hands feel painful if they press on nearby nerves. Apart from pain, this condition also sometimes makes the hands numb. Cysts can go away on their own or with surgery.
3. Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nerve cells, especially those in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves of the eye. One of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis that appears is numb hands.
Generally the condition appears in the 20s to 30s. Women have twice the risk compared to men. Other symptoms that usually appear are muscle weakness and double vision.
Usually, between one symptom and another will appear for a long time so that a person who has multiple sclerosis can usually be diagnosed after many years.
4. Thyroid disorders
Thyroid disorders can cause numb hands. When this disorder is not treated, it can cause damage to the nerves that carry information between the brain and spinal cord.
In addition to numb hands, the body will show various other symptoms such as hair loss, weight gain, feeling cold all the time. Therefore, do not underestimate it when you experience these symptoms. Immediately consult a doctor before the condition worsens.
5. Stroke
When you experience frequent tingling and numbness in your hands, you need to be vigilant. The reason is this can be a signal that the body signals a stroke.
Stroke is a condition when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted so that brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients which can cause cells to malfunction. Apart from numb hands, other accompanying symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, and asymmetric smile lines. Stroke can strike all ages, not only the elderly but also young people.
6. Guillain-Barre syndrome
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition when the body's immune system attacks nerves. The initial symptoms that usually appear are weakness and tingling in the extremities such as the hands and feet.
This sensation usually spreads rapidly until it ends up paralyzing all parts of your body. In addition, you will experience various other symptoms such as severe pain and soreness and cramps at night, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, and decreased bladder control. Although the exact cause is not known, this syndrome generally appears with an infectious disease such as the respiratory tract or stomach flu.
7. Alcohol addiction
According to the National Library of Medicine, United States, alcoholism can cause nerve damage. Typically, people who are addicted to alcohol experience a variety of symptoms such as muscle weakness, spasms, and numbness in the arms and legs.
People who experience this usually have no control over the urge to continue drinking alcohol even though they know the dangers of drinking too much alcohol. Usually these negative symptoms will appear if you have been addicted to alcohol for a long time.
