Why are my fingertips numb? There are many reasons. If it cannot be relieved by itself, you need to seek medical treatment in time.
Numbility in the fingertips is a relatively common phenomenon. For example, when lifting heavy objects, local ischemia in the fingertips will cause numbness. For example, fingertips may experience pain and numbness in extremely cold weather. This is caused by severe contraction of peripheral blood vessels caused by cold stimulation. When sleeping on your stomach, pressure on the nerves and blood vessels of your hands will cause numbness in your fingers. In these cases, they are physiological phenomena and are transient. The numbness can be relieved by removing the trigger. In addition, there are many pathological conditions that cause fingertip numbness.
1. Cervical spondylosis
When the cervical intervertebral disc degenerates, it often leads to cervical disc herniation or the proliferation or hypertrophy of the cervical intervertebral bodies or articular processes. These herniated cervical discs Or once bone hyperplasia compresses the adjacent cervical nerve roots, sympathetic nerves, spinal cord or blood vessels, cervical spondylosis will occur, causing numbness in the fingers, and even dizziness, headache, and numbness of the upper limbs. In addition to numbness and abnormal sensation in the fingers, cervical spondylotic radiculopathy is also accompanied by other symptoms, such as bone and muscle aches in the neck and shoulders, radiating pain or mobility impairment in the upper limbs, etc.
2. Cerebral infarction
In the case of mild cerebral infarction, the symptoms may not be particularly obvious. A few people may experience numbness in their limbs, including numbness in their fingertips. If symptoms such as headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, numbness of limbs, and swollen tongue are often present, and the patient usually suffers from high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cerebral arteriosclerosis and other diseases, more attention should be paid to the occurrence of stroke.
3. Carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel syndrome
Due to contracture of the transverse carpal ligament, which compresses the median nerve, the patient will have symptoms of numbness in the fingertips. If the ligament is released after surgery, Patients will feel significant relief from symptoms. Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the ulnar nerve is compressed when it passes through the ulnar nerve groove at the elbow, causing numbness in the little finger, half of the ring finger, and the corresponding palm and back of the hand.
4. Raynaud's syndrome
The cause is currently unknown. When exposed to cold or emotional excitement, the small arteries of the fingers and toes spasm, which manifests as pale skin on the fingers and toes, and then It turns purple and flushed, and when the skin is pale, it is often accompanied by tingling and numbness.
5. Diabetic peripheral neuritis
One of the common complications of diabetes is diabetic peripheral lesions, which manifest as numbness, pins and needles, and ant crawling starting from the distal hands and feet. and electric shock-like sensations. These symptoms generally appear symmetrically.
6. Drug-induced peripheral nerve damage
Many drugs have some neurotoxicity, such as the anti-tuberculosis drug isoniazid, such as the anti-tumor drugs vincristine, oxaliplatin, etc. They are all neurotoxic. When a certain dose is reached, patients will experience numbness in their fingertips or toes and a sensation of electric shock.
7. Poisoning
Such as alcohol poisoning, mercury poisoning, arsenic poisoning, organophosphorus poisoning, etc. Poisoning by these chemical substances can also cause paralysis of peripheral nerves, manifested as numbness in the fingertips.
8. Other diseases
Such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, autoimmune diseases (dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus, etc.), thyroid dysfunction, autonomic nerve dysfunction, excitement and quarrels Respiratory alkalosis and hypokalemia after crying may cause numbness in the fingertips.
Therefore, numbness of fingertips is sometimes not an inconspicuous problem. When unexplained finger numbness occurs and does not resolve on its own after a period of time, it is best to go to the hospital in time to find the cause.