NUMBNESS & TINGLING INTO THE ARMS AND HANDS

Radiating discomfort can manifest as numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness. The nerves that come out fo the lower back innervate the legs, feet, and toes. Pressure on these nerves can produce symptoms that travel down the legs into the feet and/ or toes.

What To Look For

  • Numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness into the arms and/or hands most often stems from nerve compression
  • The nerves that go into the hands can become compressed at multiple different areas.
  • Neck – The nerves that go into the arms and hands come from the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine.  This is the origin of the nerves and most commonly the area leading to the nerve compression.
  • Thoracic Outlet – The thoracic outlet is a region of the top of the ribs and below the collarbone.  Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a condition in which the nerves and blood vessels that run through the Thoracic outlet become irritated and compressed, leading to radiating pain.
  • The Cubital Tunnel – The ulnar nerve (which runs down into the forearm and hand) runs through a small sheath known as the cubital tunnel.  When this area compresses on the ulnar nerve running through it, you may notice numbness and tingling into the hands.
  • The carpal tunnel – This is one of the most known sources of radiating pain.  This is the anatomical tunnel through which the nerves of the forearm and wrist travel into the hands.  When this tunnel compresses on the nerve, you will feel the numbness and tingling symptoms.

What to Do

  • Get into a Chiropractor or Health Professional to find out where the compression is coming from.  Until you find out where you are getting the nerve irritation, treatment can be difficult. Adjusting the lower neck will help to remove any compression on nerves and relieve the pain.  
  • Ensure you are not deficient in Vitamin B – specifically Vitamin B12.  The B vitamin complex is used to help regulate the nerves and nervous system.  A deficiency in Vitamin B may lead to peripheral neuropathy.
  • Many studies show that supplementing with Vitamin B can reduce neuropathy like symptoms.
  • Modify your workstation to reduce stress on the hand and wrist.  You want to ensure that your workstation is not causing carpal tunnel issues that could be causing radiating discomfort into the hands.  Remember you want your wrist and forearm in a neutral position (no angle) and ensure that your hands are not contorted or bent at all.
  • Make sure if you have a pad for your keyboard, that it is contacting the pad of the hand, and NOT the wrist.
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