I have been experiencing lack of circulation in my right thumb and index finger this morning. It happened first when I was in bed and I thought it was due to my hands being place above my head. It happened once again while I was typing on the computer. When it regained it's usual, it just happend all at once.
I have been doing a lot of yard work and my hands are much stronger than they have been from the work. Tendons appear thicker and stronger.
2007-01-05 05:07:59 · 4 answers · asked by moire1111 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
moire,
First, how do you know that it is lack of circulation? Just what are your symptoms? They sound occasional. Is that true?
Try this trick:
when you think you have this lack of circulation, press hard on your thumbnail. When you let go, count the seconds for the color to return to the nailbed. If it takes longer than two seconds, you probably do have poor circulation to it.
If not, if the color comes back more quickly than that, then it could be overuse or a kind of repetitive-motion injury. The most commonly-heard of one now is carpal-tunnel syndrome, but while yours would not be that, it could very well be that sort of condition in another spot.
You have quite a network of nerves that run through the wrist into the hand, and if you have been doing a lot of work lately, it would be easy to irritate one or another of them.
What tools are you using? How do you use them? How do you grip them?
The change in musculature, in tendon thickness, and in hand usage all could impinge on a nerve or even on a vein or artery for a time, for which the first treatment would be rest. The strength is a pleasing result of your yard work, but the sudden (or at least rapid and probably unaccustomed) increase in hand geometry could cause those parts which are not yet accustomed to the work and to the size of the parts of your hands to become irritated.
I assume that you do not have diabetes or Reynaud's Phenomenon (Reynaud's usually affects all the extremities, leaving them feeling cold and not numb)? That there is no other reason for any numbness or pain in your hands?
In which case, you most likely have a case of overuse, tendonitis, or repetitve-strain injury similar to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Rest and Naproxen Sodium should help. It might take as long as a month for the numbness to fade, but I would think that it would.
also, you should buy and wear a brace for your wrist and thumb.
If it goes on, or if it stops being intermittent (it is, right?) then see a doctor, but my guess is that it's nerve and not circulation.
2007-01-05 06:12:00 · answer #1 · answered by eutychusagain 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are braces you can get to help prevent any further damage to your thumb. Go to the pharmacy and tell one of the pharmacy workers your problem and that you want to see if wearing a brace will help the situation. I had a doc tell me it was carpel tunnels and gave me a brace. The brace helped. Anytime it started flaring up, I wore the brace. 4 years after that, this past Dec 18th I had surgery on my neck. The problem is resolved. It was something going on in my neck that caused the problem.
2007-01-05 05:19:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like how my hands felt before I had my carpal tunnel surgery. It is common in people who do repetitive work with their hands. I would check it out with the doctor if I were you. Good luck.
2007-01-05 05:14:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like carpel tunnel syndrome to me.
2007-01-05 05:10:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋