i keep getting pins and needles and numbness in my left hand mainly my little finger

[thesandman]

[earthwitch]

I get tingly areas on my hands and with me its to do with nerve irritation and compression from my damaged neck (syndesmophytes and osteophytes from ankylosing spondylitis), though cervical spine degeneration and osteoarthritis can do it too. Because the nerve starts in the neck and travels right down the arm it can also be a bit irritated either at the shoulder or at the elbow or at the wrist as well (either by damage to the bone or by inflammation in the area), so it can be hard to tell exactly where the problem is coming from. With mine its definitely the neck, and I can actually tell exactly which vertebra is causing the problem from where the tingling is - if its down the little finger side of the hand its the C8 nerve, if its just the middle fingers its C7, and if its on the thumb side its C6. If you google "dermatome map" you might be able to find the coloured diagram that shows these cutaneous nerves, though its a bit simplistic as the whole area of nerve sensation is very complex. I've been told that there isn't anything can be done with my neck unless the nerve compression was causing a whole lot of much more severe problems (tingling hasn't been considered a problem on its own), though I wouldn't be keen to have surgery on my neck anyway as I know the risks are really high for that kind of surgery. At the moment I just concentrate on trying to hold my neck in a good position, particularly when sleeping. Its definitely worth reporting to your GP and rheumatologist though. If they think it might be coming from carpal tunnel, or elbow, and you are having the problem a lot, they may think its worth while doing nerve conduction studies, though if its just an intermittent problem chances are the studies won't show anything anyway.

[Jill60]

Hi, I have a herniated disc in my neck and pressing on the nerve! causing the problem that EARTHWITCH mentioned....I'm being refered to a Nuero surgeon and I want the op, if they offer me it.....the pain is horrific and acute, take Gabapentin for the pain, but makes me have brain fog...you need to see someone ASAP xx

[Hidden]

Physio can help and also traction. I used a traction device that you pop over the top of a door. There's a harness that goes around you head and then you apply tension. It worked well for me although ultimately I had the op. ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion) at C5/6 and C6/7. It was a simple procedure and I only had to stay overnight (might not even have had to that if I had been on the morning list.)

[Jill60 in reply to Hidden]

Hi pb... I read your pits with interest, I feel comforted that the op went well for you, I have has my prob for three years now after severe whiplash, the herniation is at c5/6 and the pain that radiates down my neck, shoulder and into my arm is dreadful....stil awaiting appt for NeuroSurgeon, will chase up nxt week...at the time, my spine surgeon told me the bulge should go away on its own, but mine did not, it got bit bigger and the pain is worse.....anyway, glad you got yours sorted and now I. Not worrying as much : ).... Thanks Jill

[Hidden in reply to Jill60]

Hi Jill

Sounds to me as if you would definitely benefit from some physio if not the traction. I sympathise - that's exactly the pain I had and it can be excruciating. What meds are you on? I was pout on amitryptiline, which helped. And for acute pain codeine and Valium (Valium is a muscle relaxant and that's what is needed as a lot of the pain is caused by muscle spasm

[Victoria-NRAS Partner Moderator NRAS in reply to Hidden]

Hi

We have to be very careful saying anything as definitive as 'you would definitely benefit from some physio'. There are many potential causes of numbness and tingling, and I think this really needs medical investigation. Until the causes are known it's hard for anyone to know what the best treatments would be.

Kind regards

Victoria

(NRAS Helpline)

[Luthien66]

Hiya, I get a tingly pins and needles feeling along with a sort of numbness & pain in both of my hands & fingers and my GP has told me it's Carpel Tunnel syndrome. I would do as Jill said and see your GP to get this looked into. xx

[Jill60 in reply to Luthien66]

Hi there, I've had both hands operated on in 1987, after my first baby was born, apparently Kings hosp in London did the tests they do and mine came back, in there words as " worst case of carpal tunnel they have seen in years!"....... Pain was so bad,kept me awake for over three months, My GP back then thought I was imagining the pain as I just had a baby! he wanted to refer me to a psychiatrist lol....my Mum told him off and then he refered me to Nuero surgeon....all went well, it's also hereditary, my young D aughter had both hers done at age 21.... All good so far, because even if you have the op, you can still get tingly fingers etc....so Good luck with yours, don't be worried about what I said, as we are all different, some people have lesser degrees of it.....Tc Jill

[shasmac]

My RA is quite well controlled with mtx, etc but I do experience the tingling pins and needles in my hands and feet. It happens when I'm getting stressed (usually at work), often at the end of the day. I can recognise it coming now and usually take a break or go home.

Shasmac

[mauree]

What causes this?