Numbness of the left hand may be a temporary phenomenon resulting from being in an uncomfortable position, or indicate the development of a number of diseases. Determining whether there is cause for concern is quite simple.

When the culprit is physiology

If the sensitivity is quickly restored, and after 2-3 minutes there is no trace of numbness, then the most likely cause is physiological. This means that the hand becomes numb due to mechanical compression of the arteries when performing certain actions.

Non-disease related physiological causes of numbness include:

• hours of work at a computer or desk;
• wearing clothes with elastic bands or tight cuffs on the sleeves;
• heavy physical labor, including lifting and carrying heavy loads;
• professional activities where hands are mainly involved - knitting, embroidery, sewing, packaging and packaging of goods, etc .;
• improperly organized bed. This item includes a too soft, hard, uneven or sagging mattress, an excessively low or high pillow. Under such conditions, a person is forced to take uncomfortable, non-physiological postures in which blood vessels and nerves are pinched;
• a long stay of hands above shoulder level is possible at night, in a dream, or when performing monotonous work.

The problem of numb hands appears, as a rule, in the morning, after sleep. You can get rid of it with the help of gymnastics, massage or rubbing. You can “lie down” your hand very much if you lie in one position for a long time, and even more so on your hand. In this case, the sensitivity is restored for a long time: numbness gradually turns into tingling, and after 10-15 minutes the limb finally returns to normal.

When to call an ambulance

It is important to know that if the numbness persists for an hour or longer, while the fingers become numb, there is pain and discomfort behind the sternum, it becomes difficult to breathe, it is necessary to call an ambulance. This combination of symptoms can indicate a heart attack and even threaten a person's life.

The main symptom of angina pectoris (angina pectoris) is pressing pain in the chest on the left, which radiates to the left shoulder blade, shoulder and little finger. The pain is most often very intense, and the person literally freezes in one position, pressing his hand to his chest.

The duration of a typical attack of angina is from two to 10 minutes, the condition is relieved at rest and after the use of Nitroglycerin.

A heart attack does not always start with chest pain, sometimes the arm goes numb first, there is unexpected weakness or heartburn.

With an approaching heart attack, the pain in the chest and left arm is much stronger, and the attack is longer - at least half an hour. A hallmark of a heart attack is persistent pain that is not relieved by nitroglycerin and does not decrease at rest.

Emergency medical care may be required for some other cardiac pathologies, one of the signs of which is numbness. However, most often they are accompanied by severe pain in the chest and left arm. Sometimes the pain radiates (radiates) to the interscapular region and lower back.

How to recognize pathology

The question "why is it numb left hand» occurs usually with regular or prolonged numbness that occurs for no apparent reason. Cardiovascular and neurological diseases can provoke this symptom. However, in the first place in terms of prevalence is osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernia. It is against the background of dystrophic processes in the spine that pinching of the nerve roots occurs, which causes a regular loss of sensitivity.

List of pathologies in which the left hand may go numb:

• tunnel syndrome;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• hypertonic disease;
• thoracic outlet syndrome (THS);
• shoulder plexitis;
• diabetes;
• vascular atherosclerosis;
• multiple sclerosis (MS);
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS);
• tumors of the brain and spine;
• Raynaud's syndrome;
• vegetovascular dystonia, anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency;
• alcohol abuse.

The reason that the left hand goes numb from the elbow to the fingers can also be infectious lesions - tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis, syphilis. Sometimes numbness in the arm is an early sign of an ischemic stroke.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical region

With osteochondrosis, sensitivity disorder can cover different areas of the shoulder girdle and upper limb. Numbness can spread both to the entire arm from the shoulder to the fingers, and affect individual areas - the shoulder, forearm, hand, one or more fingers.

In the vast majority of cases, only one hand is affected, and not necessarily the left. The side of the lesion depends on which nerve is pinched: on the right or on the left. The immediate cause of compression is the displacement of the vertebrae or discs, which become thinner due to lack of nutrition.

The thinning and decrease in the elastic properties of the intervertebral discs leads to the convergence of neighboring vertebrae and the narrowing of the exit holes for the spinal nerves. Due to compression of the latter, sensitivity is disturbed and muscle tone areas innervated by a particular nerve.

If left untreated, osteochondrosis is complicated by protrusions and hernias, since the fibrous ring of the disc, under pressure from neighboring vertebrae, goes beyond its anatomical boundaries

Numbness of the entire arm means degradation of the discs at the level of 3-5 vertebrae. If the disk next to the 6th vertebra is affected, the sensitivity disappears in the first three fingers - thumb, index and middle. Protrusion and hernia in the region of the 7th vertebra is manifested by numbness of the middle, ring and little fingers on the left or right hand.

The insidiousness of osteochondrosis is that it is able to disguise itself as many pathologies. This disease is often accompanied by other characteristic symptoms:

• tension and stiffness in the muscles of the collar zone;
• pain, weakness and cramps in the upper limbs;
• headaches, dizziness, flies before the eyes;
• decreased visual acuity, periodic tinnitus;
• chest pain, rapid heartbeat (cardiac syndrome);
• lack of coordination;
• jumps in blood pressure.

tunnel syndrome

If the hand becomes numb and tingles, while the greatest loss of sensitivity is felt in the first three fingers, the development of carpal tunnel syndrome can be assumed. The left hand is exposed to this disease mainly in left-handed people, since the provoking factor is physical activity on the dominant limb.

Pathology occurs in manual workers - musicians, seamstresses, construction workers. A number of experts consider long work on the computer to be one of the reasons for its development, although this hypothesis has not yet been confirmed.

In carpal tunnel syndrome, the channel through which the median nerve passes is reduced. Numbness in the hand is an early symptom, to which pain of a shooting nature is added later. It is noteworthy that the pain syndrome usually bothers not all the time, but only at night.

Sensitivity returns when shaking the hand or lowering the arm down. The movement of the limb also helps to reduce the intensity of pain. The progression of carpal tunnel syndrome leads to a weakening of muscle strength, which is manifested by difficulties in grasping and holding objects.

IMPORTANT: the left hand hurts and becomes numb mainly in left-handed people, since the main load falls on it.

Hypertonic disease

The rise in blood pressure (BP) in hypertension can also be the reason that the left hand goes numb. People with this diagnosis react differently to an increase in performance: some do not feel it at all, while others do not tolerate even a difference of 5-10 mm Hg. Art.

One of the symptoms of a pressure surge is a sensitivity disorder in the upper limbs. To a greater extent, this is characteristic of patients with a history of cerebral stroke. The presumed cause is an increase in the permeability of cerebral vessels and subsequent swelling of the affected areas, which is most characteristic of acute circulatory disorders.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (THS)

The most typical symptom of this syndrome is numbness of the arm from the elbow to the hand, but in some cases the entire arm may become numb. This is due to compression of large nerve trunks and / or blood vessels in the space between the clavicle and the first rib - the upper aperture.

Paresthesia is a sensory disturbance characterized by a burning, tingling, or numbness sensation.

The most common cause of GBS is an additional cervical rib, less often it provokes the wrong position of the muscles of the neck or chest. The clinical picture may include numbness in different parts hands. In some patients, the left hand hurts completely, while others complain of a lack of sensitivity in only the last two fingers.

In most cases, only one hand is affected - right or left - since unilateral cervical ribs are much more common than bilateral ones. A limb can hurt and go numb with different intensity - it depends on which nerve is clamped and how strong the compression is.

Shoulder plexitis

Plexitis is a group of diseases in which the nerve plexuses are damaged. The spinal nerves at the level of the lower back, neck, and shoulders can be affected. Shoulder plexitis is one of the possible answers to the question "why does the left arm hurt and go numb."

Pain is a must this disease. It can be aching, shooting, itching or breaking in nature and cover the area of ​​​​the collarbone and shoulder, and also spread to the entire arm.

A typical sign of plexitis is an increase in pain at night, especially when moving in the elbow or shoulder joint. Sensitivity disappears, muscles weaken and atrophy, which makes it difficult to hold any objects. A person cannot take a cup, open a door with a key, or fasten buttons on clothes.

IMPORTANT: damage to the nerves of the brachial plexus is almost always unilateral, since the cause usually lies in trauma or medical errors during medical procedures.

What to do

With frequent and prolonged sensitivity disorder, it is necessary to undergo an examination to find out its cause. Many diseases that have this symptom are easier and faster to treat in the early stages.

If there is no suspicion of pathology, or the examination did not reveal any health problems, it is necessary to pay attention to external circumstances. First of all, on a sleeping place, since the hand, forearm or shoulder becomes numb, most often among those who like to sleep on their side with a hand under their head.

An excellent prevention of numbness in the hands will be a tandem of an orthopedic mattress and pillow

Preventive measures can help reduce the likelihood of numbness:

• sleep on an orthopedic pillow. Ideally, if the mattress is also orthopedic;
• moderate physical activity - doing morning exercises and warm-up breaks during sedentary work;
• self-massage of the neck, which is easy to learn;
• compliance with the optimal mode of work and rest;
• balanced diet without excess cholesterol-containing foods in the diet;
• regular intake of a contrast shower to maintain blood vessels in good shape.

Treatment

Therapeutic tactics is determined by the disease that causes numbness. early stages cervical chondrosis are successfully treated with special exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the shoulder girdle.

The ideal sport for almost any pathology of the musculoskeletal system and, in particular, the spine, is swimming. In water, the load on the spinal column and joints is reduced, and the muscles work at full strength. As a result, blood supply and nutrition of the discs improves, discomfort in the neck and back decreases.

When a hernia is diagnosed, traction traction of the spine is often prescribed, which can be performed in water or on land. The course of such procedures gives a lasting effect by increasing the distance between the vertebrae.

In order to improve microcirculation and accelerate regenerative processes, physiotherapy procedures are used - electrophoresis, magnetic and amplipulse therapy. With the help of massage sessions, muscle spasms are relieved, which are most often one-sided.

Therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome is to eliminate or correct the causative factor. If it has become a professional activity, you need to take a break from work and give your hand a rest.

Since the carpal tunnel can narrow due to injury or against the background of an endocrine disease, the dislocations are reduced or the underlying disease is corrected. If necessary, the hand is temporarily immobilized by means of a splint.

IMPORTANT: both intervertebral hernias and tunnel syndrome in some cases are treated only surgically.

The treatment of hypertension is always complex and consists not only of medicines. At any stage of hypertension, it is necessary to normalize body weight, follow a special diet with a high content of potassium and magnesium, and a reduced amount of salt.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is treated only by surgery, during the operation, structures that press on the nerve trunks are removed. Medications you can only temporarily eliminate numbness and other symptoms.

Full restoration of the function of the nerves of the brachial plexus is possible only with the timely initiation of therapy, since over time, irreversible changes occur in the tissues due to their insufficient innervation, and the muscles atrophy

The treatment regimen for shoulder plexitis depends on the cause that caused it, the most common of which is trauma. Therefore, most often, treatment begins with immobilization (immobilization) of the shoulder joint.

According to indications, antibiotics, antiviral drugs are prescribed, metabolic disorders are corrected. All patients are prescribed vasodilators and neuroprotective agents - B vitamins, Pentoxifylline, Adrenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP).

Instead of a conclusion

Unexplained numbness in both left and right right hand cannot be ignored. If a sensitivity disorder occurs systematically and does not go away for a long time, you need to seek medical help. Under the condition of timely treatment, many diseases, even very serious ones, are successfully treated, which cannot be said about neglected forms.

Numbness in the hands is a symptom of several essentially different diseases. Why does the left hand go numb and which doctor should I contact for help? The symptom is serious enough to pay attention to it and take timely measures to prevent the development of pathological irreversible situations.

What diseases cause numbness in the left hand?

If you feel numbness in the left limb, you need to pay attention to the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

From the side of the heart and blood vessels, pathologies such as:

• Myocardial infarction is accompanied by acute, pronounced pain sensations that radiate under the shoulder blade, the arm becomes numb and this condition cannot be stopped by taking nitroglycerin;
• Unlike a heart attack, with angina pectoris, numbness in the left arm appears after exercise and quickly disappears after taking nitroglycerin. The upper part of the arm grows numb - the shoulder and forearm from the elbow;
• A stroke in the right hemisphere of the brain causes not only numbness of the left arm and leg, but also visual, hearing, and speech impairments;
• Atherosclerosis leads to narrowing of blood vessels and impaired circulation. If we are talking about the pathology of the vessels supplying blood to the left hand, then with a load, raising the hand, weakness, numbness, tingling appear;
• If the hand, fingers of the left hand go numb, then cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis is likely to occur, accompanied by a violation of the blood supply and innervation of the hand. The arm may hurt from the shoulder to the hand, there is weakness in the arms.

Why are the fingers of the left hand numb?

Hand numbness - causes:

1. Numbness thumb associated with pathological processes in the joint, impaired circulation or innervation. Problems with blood vessels lead to swelling, discoloration of the skin (redness, cyanosis), a feeling of cold. Numbness may be accompanied by pain radiating to the arm.
2. Numbness of the index finger can be associated with high physical exertion, as well as with a fungal infection of the nail.
3. Loss of sensitivity of the ring finger is most common and is associated with cervical osteochondrosis (protrusion, intervertebral hernia, bone vertebral outgrowths).
4. Very often, the numbness of the ring finger is complemented by similar sensations in the little finger. It is innervated by the ulnar nerve and pinching the latter in cervical region spine leads to finger numbness. In addition, there may be a syndrome of the scalene and pectoralis minor.

Why are my fingertips numb?

Numbness in the pads of the fingers may be associated with endocrine disorders, such as diabetes. When an unpleasant symptom appears, it is necessary to undergo an examination.

Why does my left hand go numb while sleeping?

As a rule, arm numbness in a dream occurs due to an uncomfortable posture. In colloquial speech, this state is called "lay down the hand."

Under the weight of one's own body and during joint sleep (when the partner sleeps on the man's shoulder, the child is on the mother's chest), the arm becomes numb, blood circulation is disturbed in it.

To get rid of numbness, it is enough to rub the limb intensively, do exercises, take a contrast shower.

However, if the situation becomes normal and is not associated with an uncomfortable posture, consult a doctor. Perhaps we are talking about cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis.

Why does my hand go numb while working at a computer?

Computers have become so firmly entrenched in everyday life that the average person can be imagined without them. workplace engineer, technologist, office worker, teacher or accountant is impossible.

People who spend a long time at the computer often complain of pain and numbness in their hands, and this is more true for gamers.

Unpleasant symptoms are associated with the static position of the hand throughout the day. This phenomenon is called "carpal tunnel syndrome". It occurs due to compression of the median nerve passing through the carpal tunnel.

Similar problems are familiar to musicians - pianists, accordionists.

Causes of numbness of the left hand

The cause can be any pathological processes leading to compression, inflammation or damage to nerve fibers, blood vessels. These include:

• Inflammation of the nerves of the brachial plexus;
• Compression of nerve bundles;
• Violation of blood supply as a result of an uncomfortable posture, injury, illness;
• Long static raising of hands;
• Uneven physical load on the shoulders (overweight to the left side);
• Tight uncomfortable clothing;
• Physical activity associated with the work of the left hand.

Diagnostics

Numbness of the left hand is a reason to turn to specialists: a cardiologist, a neurologist, a surgeon.

To make a diagnosis, an x-ray examination, electroneuromyography are performed.

What to do if the left hand goes numb

1. The reason for an urgent call for an ambulance is the numbness of the left arm, starting from the hand and rising along the arm up to the shoulder. This phenomenon is often accompanied by severe acute pain and we are talking about blockage of the artery - thrombosis. The lack of urgent assistance will result, at a minimum, in the amputation of a limb.
2. Numbness, which is accompanied by pain in the region of the heart, signals an impending heart attack and requires immediate hospitalization. This condition is life-threatening.
3. Since numbness is one of the symptoms of a stroke (cerebral hemorrhage), you should pay attention to the presence of other signs - headache, confusion, speech disorders, oddities with facial expressions (it is difficult for a person to smile). Modern means can prevent the severe consequences of a stroke if help is provided in a timely manner.

In other cases, you need to remove physical activity and give your hand a rest, rub the skin with your hand or a hard towel to increase blood flow.

If numbness is associated with cervical or thoracic, then the treatment does not consist in eliminating the symptoms, one of which is the loss of sensitivity, but in normalizing the position of the vertebrae, restoring cartilage tissue.

Hand numbness prevention

To prevent numbness, you need to reconsider your lifestyle:

• Pay attention to nutrition, reduce the consumption of simple carbohydrates;
• Control blood cholesterol levels to prevent the development of vascular atherosclerosis;
• Monitor blood pressure;
• Give the body moderate physical and mental stress;
• Normalize the regime of work and rest, walk on fresh air, do physical education;
• Monitor the correct posture;
• Maintain optimal body weight;
• Give up smoking and alcohol - factors that negatively affect the health of blood vessels.

Exercises for numb hands

Exercises for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, and for the treatment of the wrist joint.

With the systematic appearance of numbness in the left hand, you need to undergo an examination, establish the cause and discuss the treatment with your doctor. Sharp pain accompanying loss of sensation in the left arm is a reason to call an ambulance.

If the left arm and left leg go numb, this may indicate a dangerous systemic disease. Numbness of the left leg is a symptom characteristic of damage, inflammation or pinching of the nerve root. Similar signs may also be present with the development of a pathological lesion. internal organs or of cardio-vascular system. With an ischemic infarction, an oncological tumor, or a hypertensive crisis, the left arm and leg go numb.

Dangerous symptoms

If the left arm and left leg go numb at the same time and this condition is repeated systematically, you should consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination. Only a qualified doctor can diagnose a systemic ailment based on the results of the tests.

Stroke is the most common cause of left limb numbness.

To provoke numbness of the arm and leg on the left side can be a deterioration in blood flow in the right hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for the sensitivity of the limbs on the left side. A stroke provokes a sharp violation of blood flow, as a result of which numbness of the left arm and leg is observed, which is accompanied by a lack of motor activity, a decrease in visual acuity, and slurred speech.

Attention!

If the patient is at risk for the development of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, he needs to monitor his health, visit the doctor regularly.

The following factors can provoke a violation of cerebral circulation (stroke):

• Jumps in blood pressure (blood pressure);
• Arrhythmia;
• Tendency to form blood clots;
• Smoking and alcohol abuse;
• Obesity;
• Long-term use of oral hormonal contraceptives;
• Age - over 55-60 years old.

On a note!

If symptoms of a stroke appear, the patient should be immediately hospitalized and therapy should be started. Stroke treatment will be effective only during the first 12 hours.

Oncology

Another cause of numbness in the left arm and leg is the development of a neoplasm in the right hemisphere of the brain. In oncological diseases, the symptoms are "blurred". Numbness comes and goes. Therefore, only a doctor can diagnose a tumor after performing CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and ultrasound of the vessels of the head.

Head injury

Falls from a height, blows, fights can provoke hemorrhages between the meninges. Numbness in traumatic brain injury may occur immediately or after some time.

If the loss of sensation in the left leg or arm is accompanied by the expansion of one pupil, the victim should be immediately taken to the hospital. Certain types of head injuries require urgent neurosurgical operation.

migraine attacks

In young people (up to 30 years old), numbness of the limbs can be triggered by headache attacks - migraines. They are characterized by loss of sensation in the left or right side of the body, throbbing pain in one part of the head and face. Visual acuity disturbances, photophobia and aversion to loud sounds may be observed. The final diagnosis will be made by the doctor, after conducting research and excluding other systemic pathologies.

Stress

Young women may complain of numbness of the left arm and leg with emotional overstrain, increased anxiety. Psychosomatic disorders occur most often in emotionally unstable patients prone to hysteroid reactions. To establish the psychopathic cause of numbness allows the absence of somatic signs of systemic diseases during examinations. In this case, sedative (sedative) drugs and consultation with a clinical psychologist will help eliminate the numbness of the hands and feet.

Encephalitis

In 10% of cases, numbness of the left leg and arm is caused by such a serious illness as encephalitis. Although this disease is not common, it should not be ruled out. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain fibers, provoked by the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the body. In addition to local symptoms in the form of numbness of the left arm or leg, encephalitis is accompanied by headache attacks, nausea, loss of orientation, fainting.

The causative agent of the disease enters the body through a tick bite, unsuccessful vaccination, travel through exotic countries. Encephalitis should be treated in an infectious diseases hospital.

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is also called demyelinating disease, as they are accompanied by a gradual destruction of the myelin sheath of the nerve. In addition to loss of sensation in the left arm and leg, patients complain of reduced visual acuity and double vision.

Atherosclerosis

The formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels leads to impaired peripheral circulation and muscle spasm. Slowed blood flow is the cause of numbness in the hands and toes, which may be accompanied by burning or tingling.

Osteochondrosis

A pathology characterized by a degenerative-dystrophic process in the joints of the cervical, thoracic or lumbosacral spine. With such a disease, the tips of the fingers and toes first go numb, and over time, the entire limb loses sensitivity. There is pain on movement that affects the thigh, lower leg and shoulder.

Physiology

Why the left arm and leg goes numb - not always the cause of discomfort is a pathological process. Lead to numbness of the limbs can:

• Office work when a person spends long time sitting at the computer. There is a "carpal syndrome";
• Sleeping in an uncomfortable position causes numbness at night;
• The habit of sitting cross-legged. Leads to pinched nerve endings in the leg;
• Prolonged stay in a position in which the left hand is raised;
• Wearing narrow-toed shoes or tight clothing.

Diagnostic steps

The doctor examines and interviews the patient, collects an anamnesis of existing chronic diseases. Then he issues a referral for instrumental and clinical diagnostics:

• General and biochemical analysis of blood and urine;
• Regular blood pressure measurements;
• Ultrasound or dopplerography of blood vessels;
• X-ray examination;
• Encephalogram;
• Myography;
• MRI and CT.

On a note!

If numbness of the left extremities occurs systematically and lasts more than 15 minutes, consultation of narrow specialists will be required: a vascular surgeon, a neuropathologist, an endocrinologist and a cardiologist.

Rules for treatment and prevention

If the cause of numbness is a systemic disease, a course of therapy is prescribed to eliminate it. Such treatment can be carried out in a hospital or on an outpatient basis, under the supervision of a doctor. In addition to the medication course, the treatment of numbness includes massage, physiotherapy, reflexology and therapeutic exercises.

Attention!

If numbness occurs, you should completely stop smoking and drinking strong alcohol, as they provoke vasospasm.

If the arm or leg is numb for the first time after being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, you can cope with the discomfort yourself at home.

Expert opinion!

Before using alternative recipes for the treatment of numbness, you should consult a doctor and establish its cause. Uncontrolled use of home remedies can lead to the progression of the systemic disease and the appearance of dangerous complications.

Healing baths with bee honey, milk and sea salt well eliminate discomfort. For their preparation, homemade milk (1 liter), natural liquid honey (100 grams) and sea salt (500 grams) are combined. Thoroughly mix the ingredients, heating on a steam bath to a temperature of 50-60°C. Then pour in 1 liter of warm boiled water. The numb limb should be lowered into the bath and held for 15-20 minutes. Sessions are carried out daily for 1-2 weeks. After the procedure, the limb should be kept warm.

Proper nutrition can reduce the likelihood of recurrence of numbness. Eat foods rich in proteins and vitamins. Useful fresh fruits and vegetable salads. Bean, lean meat and seafood dishes are recommended to be included in the daily menu.

And from caffeinated drinks (coffee, black tea, cola, energy drinks) should be completely abandoned. Herbal infusions with mint or lemon balm are allowed. You should also limit the use of confectionery and sweets.

Prevention of numbness includes:

• Choosing the right clothes and shoes;
• Sleep on a comfortable mattress;
• Moderate exercise.

If you lose sensation on one side of the body, you should consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of discomfort. This allows you to start treatment of systemic pathology in a timely manner, avoiding the development of complications. For physiological reasons, numbness can be eliminated at home using folk recipes.

Numbness various parts body in medicine is called paresthesia. It occurs as a response of the body to any internal pathological conditions and may be the result of external causes. What does paresthesia of the hands mean, why do they go numb partially or completely? What should be paid attention to and what should be done?

Consider groups of main causes

Paresthesia in medicine is a condition in which the patient becomes numb in any part of the body. This is due to violations of exteroceptive skin sensitivity, due to pathological effects on the nerve fibers that provide the patency of the impulse commands of the brain. This condition can provoke the so-called radicular syndrome, caused by compression or irritation of the nerve roots.

Such violations do not occur spontaneously, they are facilitated by many internal and external factors.

Pathologies of the cardiovascular nature

• A fairly common cause of numbness in the left arm is angina pectoris. Together with its characteristic signs - pain in the heart, a feeling of discomfort in the chest and difficulty breathing, the paresthesia of the hand intensifies at night, and in the morning the hand becomes completely numb, from the shoulder joint to the very tips of the fingers.
• If complete numbness of the left limb, including fingers, is combined with difficulty in speech, visible disturbances in motor functions and decreased vision, a stroke may be the cause. Such signs indicate a violation of blood flow in the right zone of the hemisphere of the brain. Impaired blood circulation in small vessels and cause numbness of the fingertips on the left hand.
• In addition, paresthesia, combined with signs of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), may be due to diabetic neuropathy. What you should pay special attention to, since as a result of such a pathology, gangrene can affect the fingers. In addition, the cause can be atherosclerosis, in which numbness occurs due to vasoconstriction due to cholesterol deposits.

In almost all patients who complain of numbness of the left hand and fingers, the cause is due to cardiac pathologies - exacerbation of cardiac ischemia or signs of heart failure.

In patients older than middle age (over 45 years), tissue sensitivity disorders in the extremities can provoke:

• The processes of thrombosis in the vessels;
• Pathological atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels caused by beriberi;
• Nervous strain, manifested by muscle stiffness and disruption of normal blood flow.

In addition to vascular pathologies, the cause of numbness of the left hand can be a huge number of disorders and diseases of a vertebrological nature.

Vertebrological diseases

A classic example is the inflammatory processes in large nerve plexuses with plexitis. At the same time, inflammatory reactions in the nervous tissues and paresthesia in the left limb can provoke;

• processes that violate purine metabolism (with gout);
• alcohol dependence of the patient;
• injury to the limb or its shoulder area;
• various kinds of inflicted wounds of the hand in the zone of the hand and shoulder blade;
• tunnel neuropathy (compression of nerve fibers passing through the carpal tunnel);
• germination of tumors and cysts in the nerve plexuses;
• violations of blood flow in the hand and pinched nerves in the elbow area - this is manifested by a feeling of numbness in the left hand, from the elbow to the very fingers.

A common cause of decreased sensitivity in the upper limbs are:

1. Pinching of nerve fibers passing in the intercostal region (thoracalgia) and intervertebral hernias, squeezing and irritating the nerve endings.
2. The development of inflammatory processes in the shoulder joint with tendobursitis, accompanied by pain in the shoulder, shoulder girdle and neck.
3. Pathological compression of nerve tissues and vascular damage in the costoclavicular zone (scalenus syndrome), manifested by hand weakness, pain syndrome and paresthesia.
4. Growth of bone processes on the vertebral elements (cervical spondylosis), resulting in pinching and irritation of the nerve roots. Pathology is accompanied by numbness of the hand and severe occipital pain.
5. The same disorders in nerve conduction are also noted with bone growths on the vertebral discs (with cervical osteochondrosis), causing a feeling of numbness in the left arm and pain in it - the neck and shoulder area.

Causes of numbness not related to diseases

In addition to causes associated with internal diseases, left-sided paresthesia of the hand may be due to a domestic nature.

• Daily load on the hands associated with the profession;
• Squeezing the hand with uncomfortable clothing
• Normal fatigue;
• Forced prolonged holding of the arm above shoulder level;
• Sometimes it is noted that the left hand becomes numb in a dream - this is easily explained by an uncomfortable posture, or an uncomfortable bed.

In such cases, the problem is easily solved by massage, kneading the limb or light exercise.

In view of the extensive genesis of manifestations of paresthesia of the left hand, self-diagnosis and self-treatment are completely inappropriate. The article lists only a short list of causes that cause limb numbness. For example, numbness and pain in the arm from the elbow to the hand is caused not only by ischemia and nerve compression in the elbow, but also by the patient's osteochondrosis, thoracic scoliosis, arthrosis, bruises, injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome.

What should you pay attention to first of all?

1. First of all, low sensitivity to pain should attract attention.
2. Cyanosis of the skin - the appearance of cyanosis on the skin indicates violations of the circulatory function of blood to tissues, as a result, disturbances in the functions of respiration, heart and blood vessels can be provoked.
3. If the affected limb is cold, this may indicate pathological disorders in the central nervous system or in the circulatory system.
4. Pain symptoms are evidence of impaired progression of nerve impulses from damaged and inflammatory areas.

To understand the danger of the situation, it is necessary to undergo a diagnostic examination.

Diagnostic examination and treatment

If there are signs of numbness of the left hand, it is necessary to contact a cardiologist, vertebrologist or neuropathologist. These symptoms should not be ignored, especially for people who have a history of heart or vascular disease. With modern diagnostics, identifying the cause is not difficult. Diagnostic testing may include:

• magnetic resonance imaging of the spine and brain structures;
• vascular scanning of the neck area by Doppler sonography;
• radiography of the vertebral areas;
• examination of blood flow in the arm by revasography;
• complex electroneuromyographic monitoring of muscle and nerve functions;
• laboratory detection of toxins in the blood.

Therapeutic treatment is built according to the diagnostic detection of disorders. For unclear reasons, therapy is based on drugs that eliminate signs of paresthesia. The course of treatment includes:

1. Appointment of Trental, Paracetam, Nicotinic acid, Actovegin, Finlepsin and vitamin complexes.
2. Preparations and external agents that improve the circulation of blood flow in tissues - Adenosine, Methyluracil, Riboxin, vitamin complexes, Solcoseryl.
3. Magnetic therapy, sessions of medicinal electrophoresis, diadynamic therapy and therapeutic mud help to restore sensitivity in the hand.
4. The treatment complex includes detoxification procedures, medical dressings and compresses on the affected area. Detected neoplasms are removed surgically.

To maintain the stability of the state achieved during the treatment, a balanced diet is recommended. It is necessary to reduce or completely eliminate salt from the diet, include more vegetables and fruits in the diet. Quitting cigarettes and alcohol will do you good.

With the diagnostic identification of serious diseases that caused the development of paresthesia, treatment is prescribed according to the generally accepted protocol.

Numbness of the left hand is a symptom that cannot be ignored.

Numbness of the left hand provokes physical discomfort: there is a noticeable tingling, pain, a person temporarily cannot control it and individual fingers.

The left hand is numb due to:

1. Diseases of the heart muscle and blood vessels. The symptom indicates myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, hemorrhage in the right hemisphere of the brain, angina pectoris.
2. Osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic spine. It causes circulatory disorders in the limbs and their innervation.
3. Limb injuries.
4. Sleep in a non-physiological position, which causes a short-term violation of blood flow through the vessels.
5. Long stay in the cold.
6. Increased physical stress to which the limb is subjected.
7. stressful conditions.
8. Scleroderma is an autoimmune connective tissue pathology that affects the skin, blood vessels, musculoskeletal system and vital organs (kidneys, heart, lungs).
9. Diabetic polyneuropathy, in which peripheral nerve damage occurs.

Sometimes the finger on the left hand goes numb in isolation:

1. With paresthesia of the thumb, the symptoms indicate diseases of the liver, organs of the respiratory system, and kidneys.
2. With numbness of the index finger, inflammatory pathologies in the shoulder or elbow joint, muscle spasm are suspected.
3. If the middle finger goes numb, then the pathology of the spinal column is suspected. Often it is osteochondrosis of the thoracic and cervical regions.
4. Paresthesia of the ring finger is associated with diseases of the heart and blood vessels, beriberi.
5. Paresthesia of the little finger is associated with pathological compression of the nerve endings (“tunnel syndrome”).

An important symptom: if the paresthesia of the hand goes from bottom to top, then this is one of the manifestations of the presence of a blood clot in a blood vessel.

Hand paresthesia treatment

The course of treatment is prescribed after identifying the cause of limb paresthesia.

For this, diagnostic measures are prescribed:

• General study of blood composition;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs and kidneys;
• MRI of the spine, limbs, brain.

The patient may need specialist advice:

• Vertebrologist;
• Neurologist;
• Cardiologist.

Depending on what deviation has been identified, the specialist prescribes medication, therapeutic hand massage, and physiotherapy.

What to do at home

Independently with numbness of parts of the left upper limb, you can take:

1. Make contrast baths. It is necessary to alternately dip the brush into water with high and low temperatures, leaving the limb in liquids for 2 seconds. With your fingertips, you need to press on the bottom of the vessel into which water is poured.
2. Apply an alcohol compress. Add 10 ml of camphor alcohol to a liter of water. Dip a linen napkin in this composition and attach to a numb brush.
3. Get a massage. For best effect use vegetable or olive oil. Movements should be intense, but accurate.

Numbness of the hand can indicate arm fatigue or a short-term slowdown in blood circulation due to the incorrect position of the limbs during sleep, and serious pathologies. If the symptom occurs regularly, you should consult a doctor.

Which doctor to contact if a symptom occurs

With regularly repeated or prolonged numbness of the hand, the help of a specialist is required.

Doctors can help determine the cause of loss of sensitivity after the examination:

• Cardiologist;
• Therapist;
• Neurologist.

This is due to the possibility of ongoing numbness of the hand due to the development of diseases in their area of ​​specialization.

In the absence of specific suspicions of the cause of the symptom, you need to contact the local therapist, who will prescribe general procedures. This is required to identify the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe pathology and referral to the right specialist.

Accompanying numbness of the arm or part of it, pain in the region of the heart requires the attention of a cardiologist. Without additional symptoms, an initial consultation is possible with both a local therapist and a neurologist.

Based on the results of the examinations, you may need to contact such doctors as:

• Orthopedist;
• Surgeon;
• Rehabilitator;
• Osteopath.

Diagnosis of the disease

Treatment for stiffness of the limbs is aimed at eliminating the cause that caused this condition. A disease is detected, one of the symptoms of which is a partial or complete loss of sensitivity of one or 2 hands at once. This requires a number of research methods.

In order to diagnose the cause that served as the manifestation of the symptom of hand numbness, after an initial medical examination, a series of examinations may be prescribed.

Among them are laboratory studies:

• General blood analysis;
• Blood test for hormones;
• Vitamin analysis.

Upon receipt of the results of laboratory tests, the doctor draws up a general preliminary picture of the state of health.

To do this, he systematizes and analyzes information:

• Obtained data from laboratory studies;
• The results of an external examination of the patient;
• Symptoms of the manifestation of numbness based on the patient's complaints. Comparison of additional signs accompanying numbness.

Based on the generalized information, an examination is assigned. This is required to confirm or refute suspicions about the presence of specific violations in the activity of a particular area of ​​the body.

The main task of the doctor is to determine the cause of the loss of hand sensitivity. The collected material is considered for the exclusion of simple mechanical clamping of blood vessels, domestic and industrial factors not associated with diseases.

Limbing can be a harmless temporary manifestation of a separate physical impact, but it can also be a factor indicating the development of serious pathologies, violations of the normal functioning of internal organs.

Myocardial ischemia, stroke, diabetes mellitus, problems in the spine and a number of other diseases can be hidden under such a symptom as numbness of the arm area. Often, numbness occurs as a result of the progression of osteochondrosis.

To identify the disease itself, the degree of damage to the body, the patient is sent for specific examinations.

Frequently ordered examinations:

1. Radiography. It reveals damage to the spine, the presence of hernias, displacements of the intervertebral discs, the appearance of neoplasms, curvature, the development of degenerative-dystrophic pathologies, and an infectious disease.
2. Magnetic resonance imaging. It is prescribed for suspected radicular syndrome - compression of the spinal nerves.
3. Ultrasonic duplex scanning. Allows you to determine the patency of veins and arteries, the presence of blood clots in them. Examines the walls of blood vessels, reveals abnormal changes, blockage facts, the presence of plaques.
4. EEG. It is carried out under the assumption of violations in the work of the central nervous system.
5. CT scan.
6. Electroneurography. The study of the nervous system, allows you to assess the degree of damage to the nerves.
7. Electromyography. The method consists in recording electrical muscle activity, which makes it possible to determine the speed of passed nerve impulses. It is used to assess violations of human motor function in orthopedics.
8. ultrasound. Shows blood flow in the area being examined.

Conducted examinations can be prescribed both separately and in combination with each other to create a more complete picture of the state of health of the body and its individual organs.

Preventive methods

Numbness of the extremities causes discomfort and restricts movement. It is possible to reduce the degree of manifestation of symptoms, and sometimes eliminate them completely, by systematically implemented preventive measures.

The most effective measures include:

1. Moderate physical activity. Represents the daily conduct of a complex of specially designed health-improving exercises. This allows you to constantly keep the muscles of the hands in good shape and increase their resistance to the state of numbness. Actual physical activity in diseases of blood vessels and joints.
2. Proper nutrition, exclusion from the diet of fatty and spicy foods. Inclusion of fruits, herbs, vegetables, fish, vegetable oils
3. Reduce the amount of salt intake.
4. Refusal to use alcohol and nicotine.
5. Protection from the cold. Freezing hands negatively affects the condition of the joints. Respect for them - keeping warm, wearing clothes mainly from natural fabrics. In cold weather, wear gloves and mittens.
6. A small physical warm-up for the hands, alternating with a load on the hands and palms. Circular rotations of the hands have a beneficial effect on relieving tension from the muscles during work associated with a strong load on the upper limbs and spine. At long work take a break with your hands every 45 minutes for a massage. This will restore blood circulation and prevent blood stasis.

Hand exercises

To reduce the degree of manifestation of symptoms of numbness of the upper extremities, to prevent the frequency of manifestation of an uncomfortable condition, it is recommended to improve blood circulation in the hands with therapeutic exercises.

The complex of developed exercises can be common to all parts of the hand subject to numbness, or changed separately for each of them.

Numbness due to carpal tunnel syndrome is common. It accounts for more than 60% of all cases. It is characterized by loss of mobility of the fingers and hands up to the wrist. Less often - to the elbow or shoulder. Gymnastic exercises with a disease give the greatest therapeutic result.

Injuries in the spine, the formation of intervertebral hernias, displacement of the joints cause numbness in the hand in 30% of cases. All other diseases lead to a loss of hand sensitivity in 10%.

Gymnastics is carried out in order to reduce symptoms. The symptom can be completely eliminated only after the treatment of the underlying disease.

Exercises for hands, fingers:

1. Palms folded together are placed in a vertical position in front of the chest. Rubbing movements are carried out with the palms for 2 minutes.
2. The fingertips of both hands are in contact with each other, they make short pressing movements for several minutes.
3. Fingers or other problem areas of the upper limbs are massaged. Rubbing massaging movements are carried out in a clockwise direction. Attention, with the concentration of loss of sensitivity in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe hand, is given to the tips of the index fingers. Massage is carried out alternately, first for one, then for the other hand.
4. Vigorous squeezing and unclenching hands for a few seconds. Alternates with light massaging of the fingers.
5. Squeezing a tennis ball with the palms.

Exercises for the shoulder and forearm, elbow area:

1. Massaging with short pressure on the point of the forearm. It is carried out 20 times for each shoulder. The point is found by measuring the distance of 3 fingers from the bend of the elbow towards the hand.
2. Raising and lowering the arm with a delay of a few seconds in each position. It is performed alternately 10-15 times for each limb.
3. Adoption of a lying position. Raising the arms, clenching the palms into fists and unclenching them several times. Lowering the arms, stretching them along the body, relaxing the muscles. The exercise is repeated 8-10 times.

Exercises are carried out when a symptom of numbness appears. For prevention, they are performed systematically, depending on the frequency of hand numbness - 3 or 4 times a week. With a frequent state of loss of possession of the hand - daily.

Folk methods of treatment

Tools used in traditional medicine are recommended for use only in combination with the main treatment. Preliminary consultation with a doctor about the possibility of occurrence is obligatory. side effects as a result of receiving funds.

Alternative medicine methods used to eliminate the symptoms of numbness of the upper limbs:

1. Taking a rosemary bath before bed. An infusion is added to the bath filled with water, prepared for half an hour from 3 liters of water and a handful of flowers. Take a bath for a quarter of an hour.
2. Rubbing numb areas of the hand with a product prepared from camphor (10 ml) and ammonia (50 ml) alcohols. The resulting mixture is diluted with one liter of water. room temperature. One tablespoon of table salt is added to the finished product.
3. Numbness of the elbow is treated with boiled wheat porridge, folded into a cloth bag. For immediate relief, the bag is applied to the elbow and held for half an hour.
4. Sliced ​​garlic cloves are infused in vodka for 2 weeks. It is taken orally 2 times a day before meals, 5 drops of the product, diluted in one teaspoon of water. The duration of the course of treatment is one and a half months.
5. Tying the wrist with woolen thread.
6. Powdered round black pepper is poured with vegetable oil and aged for half an hour with occasional stirring. The resulting product is rubbed into problem areas 2 times a day in a warm form.