View Full Version : Lost feeling in fingers.
Hey guys, a little question for you, i've lost feeling in two of my fingers almost completely. Feels like a numb sensation, rather like when your fingers have gone to sleep.
This is on my left hand, smallest two fingers and a tiny bit on the central finger.
The only thing that's happened to that arm recently is a rather rough person grabbing my bicep area with fingertips far too hard. (Though the feeling was lost roughly 12 hours later).
I don't really want to go to a doctor or specialist as i can't afford it, anyway got any ideas?
No, and this occurred before i slept after the incident.
Well, I'm not a doctor ... but on a tangent, how come you don't have health insurance, or whatever else you need in order to get seen by a GP while you're in Norway?
Well, I'm not a doctor ... but on a tangent, how come you don't have health insurance, or whatever else you need in order to get seen by a GP while you're in Norway?
You still need to pay, with insurance, oddly.
Just thought, i tend to bang that elbow an awful lot, but this has never happened before.
It's going to be either an Ulnar nerve injury or a C8 nerve root injury (or a mixture of the two)
Without doing a neurological exam I can't narrow things down any more than that.....
Woolly One
15-09-2008, 12:21
I'm also not a Doctor - but - do you smoke? Could be your blood circulation.
It could be something to do with the Ulnar Nerve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulnar_nerve) :)
A problem I have suffered from in the past.
Edit... beaten by the expert.
I'm also not a Doctor - but - do you smoke? Could be your blood circulation.
Nope. Never smoked.
And if it is the Ulnar nerve, is it serious? Going to read that link now...
Sorry to tell you Druchii but your fingers will fall off within 3 hours.
Take this time and do things with these fingers that you always wanted to do but was never brave enough to do so :)
I know nothing about this so I hope it's not serious and you'll live!
Ok reading that it says entrapment etc can last a few days or so. It's been 2 now, so... I guess another won't hurt too much.
And if it is the Ulnar nerve, is it serious? Thats where a neurological exam comes in handy....
How old are you? I'm assuming not too old......so it's probably not your heart....
smackheadz
15-09-2008, 12:51
i damaged nerves in my left hand,little finger the one next to it and slightly middle finger aswell,and if you've done the same i'm afraid i can still feel the pain if i lean on my left arm now,and it's been over 10 years since i damaged the nerves.sorry!:Yikes:
Thats where a neurological exam comes in handy....
How old are you? I'm assuming not too old......so it's probably not your heart....
19, so fairly young i guess.
I don't want to start falling apart now :O
Go and see the doc.....ask if you can see one at your practice who has an interest in peripheral nerve injuries/neurological complaints.....you might get lucky :)
If your fingers are cold then it could be circulatory. As blood is needed to sustain tissue, you could end up losing your fingers. So if it continues, I wouldn't leave it too long, whether you can afford it or not.
Also, you're a British Citizen aren't you? If so, you are eligible for a EHIC (it replaced the E111 card so the NHS can pay for treatment in EU). It may not cover existing symptoms but its worth checking anyway in case next time its much worse.
http://www.nhs.uk/Movingabroad/Pages/About.aspx
If your fingers are cold then it could be circulatory. As blood is needed to sustain tissue, you could end up losing your fingers. So if it continues, I wouldn't leave it too long, whether you can afford it or not.
Also, you're a British Citizen aren't you? If so, you are eligible for a EHIC (it replaced the E111 card so the NHS can pay for treatment in EU). It may not cover existing symptoms but its worth checking anyway in case next time its much worse.
http://www.nhs.uk/Movingabroad/Pages/About.aspx
My fingers feel normal, in respects to temperature. (My fingers aren't going blue either)
Reading that site, though, i am very confused, i don't know if i'm working here or living here to be honest. I suppose living here, but i have an EHIC card.
---------- Post added at 15:11 ---------- Previous post was at 14:55 ----------
The more i read the more i realise that as i sleep with my arm tightly bent everynight, the less i help it...
I get that every now and then, exactly as you describe. I'd figured out it was likely to be, as suggested earlier in the thread, an ulnar nerve thing, probably from the fact I lean on the left elbow an awful lot throughout the day (having it on the table and resting my chin on it. Heads are heavy things, so it's probably not that good an idea to be putting so much weight on the elbow as I do).
The feeling goes away after a few days, though the last time probably took about a fortnight.
snip: Heads are heavy things, so it's probably not that good an idea to be putting so much weight on the elbow as I do).
Not a problem for us empty heads. ;)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ? Very common.....
I think the best response we can give you is to go to a Doctor although I hear your issues regarding costs etc. What you need to establish is what caused the problem. Also if you do any repetitive actions or ride a bike a lot or lean on your elbow repeatedly etc. The timescales involved; how long ago did it happen? How long has the numbness been present and is it getting any better or worse etc.
I'd agree with Ramrod's comments above regarding a neuro exam. Especially if the numbness has lasted over 24 hours.
The banging of the elbow may be significant. I've seen patients before with a neuropraxia caused by banging the elbow on the ulna nerve (funny bone) which is responsible for supplying feeling to those fingers you describe. It also supplies the "inside" of the forearm "below" the little finger too. Any loss of sensation there?
As you can see lots of issues need exploring hence the need for a proper examination and history.
I think the best response we can give you is to go to a Doctor although I hear your issues regarding costs etc. What you need to establish is what caused the problem. Also if you do any repetitive actions or ride a bike a lot or lean on your elbow repeatedly etc. The timescales involved; how long ago did it happen? How long has the numbness been present and is it getting any better or worse etc.
I'd agree with Ramrod's comments above regarding a neuro exam. Especially if the numbness has lasted over 24 hours.
The banging of the elbow may be significant. I've seen patients before with a neuropraxia caused by banging the elbow on the ulna nerve (funny bone) which is responsible for supplying feeling to those fingers you describe. It also supplies the "inside" of the forearm "below" the little finger too. Any loss of sensation there?
As you can see lots of issues need exploring hence the need for a proper examination and history.
Ok then Salu, thanks for your response.
I do not understand what you mean by "below" the little finger on my forearm?
The only loss of feeling i have is in that half of my hand, including the fingers and a section of my palm.
I think i shall head off to a doctor as soon as i get one, as i require a different entry into the system, which means i need to find time alone during work hours to go through it... Difficult.
I'll photograph the area i was attacked in as well, and post that up later. And a photo of my hand with affected areas highlighted.
I agree that "below" wasn't the best description. By this I mean the inside area of your forearm. The area where hair doesn't grow....However your description above answers the question tbh....
The areas of your hand that you describe as numb are the areas that are supplied by the ulna nerve. The issue is where is the nerve damaged/compressed etc.
Ok, so here are the photos i promised.
One is the injury, the other, where i a have lost feeling. the small curved line shows my little finger as completely numb down that edge.
im not a doc but i reckon the promblem is a nerve or if u slept on ur hand the best thing 2 do is go see your doc or got to a&e
im not a doc but i reckon the promblem is a nerve or if u slept on ur hand the best thing 2 do is go see your doc or got to a&e
The OP has already stated that he didn't sleep on it and can't go to the Doc as he can't afford it.
Also can you try to spell words correctly and not use text speak please.
If you look at that photo of your bruise and compare its location to the course of the ulnar nerve in the pic below you can see how/where it has probably been injured....
If you look at that photo of your bruise and compare its location to the course of the ulnar nerve in the pic below you can see how/where it has probably been injured....
Ah crud, well, maybe when the bruising and cuts heal i will be ok :)
That may be the case but I wouldn't want you to not see a doctor because we had a good guess on a web forum...It's easy to postulate but the best advice is see a doctor....
That may be the case but I wouldn't want you to not see a doctor because we had a good guess on a web forum...It's easy to postulate but the best advice is see a doctor....
Ok, i see what you mean.
Thanks for all the advice and help so far everyone. I noticed earlier if i poke my bruise slightly i can feel a little bit more in one spot on my little finger :S
That may be the case but I wouldn't want you to not see a doctor because we had a good guess on a web forum..Indeed :tu:
Coincidentally, I had an identical case in today :D
Indeed :tu:
Coincidentally, I had an identical case in today :D
Not me, :p:
Ok, I realise that this is a disturbing picture but it's the first decent one I could find for performing the ulnar nerve release excersise. Do it on the affected side and refrain from singing the Dambusters theme tune while you do it. If you do this little and often over a week or so, you might help your symptoms go away.....no promises.
Does it help if you sing the Dambusters theme at the same time?
Does it help if you sing the Dambusters theme at the same time?:D:p:
Ok, I realise that this is a disturbing picture but it's the first decent one I could find for performing the ulnar nerve release excersise. Do it on the affected side and refrain from singing the Dambusters theme tune while you do it. If you do this little and often over a week or so, you might help your symptoms go away.....no promises.
I could have done with that advice when I hurt my arm a year or 2 ago. :) Managed to bash my elbow in the exact right [or wrong, depending on your point of view] spot. I had numbness exactly like Druchii described, but that went away after... maybe a day or 2. The elbow was tender for at least a couple of months afterwards though. Most of the time it was ok, but the slightest brush against anything, or if I forgot about it & leaned on it, even on something soft like my bed, it hurt like hell. It's ok now though.
Mr_love_monkey
20-09-2008, 06:27
I banged my foot around 4 years ago, caught it on the edge of a door frame, and I lost the feeling on a spot on my big toe - about the size of a 5p.
4 years later, and the feeling hasn't come back - Dr & neurologist basically said "it's one of those things...."
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