my left hand is numb... Carpal tunnel?

[Mek0ng]

I woke up the other morning and I had fallen asleep on my left arm. It was numb and tingly about half way down my left arm. I thought nothing of it, but its been three days now and my pinky finger and side of my hand is still tingly and numb. Other than that my health is just fine, probably should quit smoking cigs but not sure what could be causing this, im only 27. I have no health insurance so a doc visit is always around $100 and a many hour wait, so I was wondering, should I be concerned, or just ignore it and hope it stops.

I work many hours every day on the computer and noticed that the way my left arm sits on my desk that it aggravates the tingling could it be carpal tunnel? I know carpal is normally on the thumb side but this is on the pinky, is there carpal pinky syndrome or something?

[xrayjeeper83]

if your hand has been numb and tingly for 3 days, its time to be concerned

Could be carpal tunnel, but Im not sure. Id still have it checked out

[Flutter]

You need to see the doctor. It's time.

[J-P]

I have that happen also... that tingling AFAIK is the nerves stitching themselves back together. If you have movement and some sensation you should be good for a while and it should return to normal after a spell. BUT a doctors advice is always best.

[Flutter]

The thing is that none of us can say what it is or isn't. All of that depends on things that we just don't know. Nevermind the fact that most of us have not finished medical school. Nerves are not like any other cells and they most definitely can't stitch themselves back together

[J-P]

something is blocking them from sending the correct signals.. usually a lack of blood flow and or too much pressure. I get a numb pinky about 3-5 times a year for the exact same reason .. slept on it strange. Regarding "stitching"; yes, a severed nerve will not re-attach itself. It was a term used for lack of a better word

[Flutter]

But where is the problem occurring? Is it in the middle of the forearm, what about the elbow? Perhaps it's further up like in the shoulder or neck. If you're really lucky it'll be in your spinal cord or your brain It's just not something to mess with. It's so easy to get permanent nerve damage. Take it from someone who has permanent nerve damage, it's not worth the risk. It could be nothing but it needs to be checked out. You need to know what the problem is.

[Lil' Swimz$]

I slept on my hand funny one night, cause I had it under my jaw, and kinda twisted, and the next morning it was really numb. I couldn't move it actually. I just flopped it around with my other hand and after a couple hours it was fine. Can't say what'd it be like for more then half a day though.

[PolishPuff]

yeah, It happened to me as well but during a normal afternoon, left hand. I was thinking it may be a beginningof a hart attack or something.

Check in to the ER, they did chest x-ray, blood tests, EKG and hooked me up to the IV.

Well, I was fine and realist from the hospital.

I was recommended a aspirin. They told me to take one pill a day. Drop a pill in to a glass of water and wait on till it melts. Taking a whole pill and swallowing it may be harmful cuz it may stick to hour stomach and burn a hole out

[Mek0ng]

But where is the problem occurring? Is it in the middle of the forearm, what about the elbow? Perhaps it's further up like in the shoulder or neck. If you're really lucky it'll be in your spinal cord or your brain It's just not something to mess with. It's so easy to get permanent nerve damage. Take it from someone who has permanent nerve damage, it's not worth the risk. It could be nothing but it needs to be checked out. You need to know what the problem is.

Its half way up my left ulma to my pinky finger. That is the best I could describe. My pinky is numb, but the rest is a little tingly. Movement is fine, but its still numb.

[Flutter]

But, a problem higher up can still cause the problem only lower down. The point where it starts isn't necessarily the point where the damage is.

[BeachORama]

If you can move your wrist around without pain... it's most likely not CTS.

Is there swelling in your wrist, arm, pinky?

Any discoloration (blue, black) in your pinky?


Most likely, you strained your muscles inflaming the area causing pressure on your sensory nerve (ulnar nerve.)

The smoking causes poor circulation to your extremities. Poor blood flow can lead to numbness and then ... well you know... loss of the area.

I doubt it's serious though.

People experience numbness in their feet often from swelling, standing too much...etc.

* Keep an eye on discoloration!!! * (This is a sign of problems.)

[eieio]

might be something serious...........
might also be something that warm epsom salt soaks several times a day might help
a mild anti-inflammatory (such as aspirin - as PolishPuff mentioned), probably wouldn't hurt either

[Mek0ng]

Its still tingly I can move it just fine and there is no pain, just makes it hard to type and do other stuff, no swelling. I took a Naproxen, no real effect. I guess I should go to the doc if it keeps up for a few days. I just worry they are gonna charge me +$100 and then going to refer me to specialist who is gonna say its nothing big and hand me a +$2000 bill.

Ill the Epsom salt soak thing.

I almost broke my knee a few years about and that cost move $2,980 for them to xray it, give me a brace and some anti-inflammatory.

USA has such great healthcare... For me to get health insurance that covers really anything, its $380 and month... I should move to canada or costa rica...

[Mek0ng]

so I went to the doc today, its cubital tunnel compression. They said there is pretty much nothing I can do but change the way I use the computer and rest on my elbow. She said it is indefinite how long it will last and will at best be better in a week or two, if longer get it checked again and may some day need surgery. It is constantly ANNOYING and painful, I have hardly gotten any sleep since this started, I roll over in my sleep and it triggers, I get less than 1hr sleep before waking and having to stretch it out. So yeah Im pissed off... My dog is trained to walk on my left, this is such a pain in the rear... ::Just had to vent::

I think im gonna try acupuncture.