Dr. Steven Rueda is one of the most sought after doctors for hand numbness and tingling in Palm Beach. Sensation to the hands is provided by three nerves: the median nerve, ulnar nerve, and radial nerve. Symptoms of numbness and tingling arise when these nerves are irritated by injury or compression. This irritation can also result in hand pain or shocking sensations going down the hand and fingers. Treatment of numbness and tingling focuses on identifying which nerves are affected and the location at which this irritation or pinching is occurring.
WHAT CAUSES NUMBNESS AND TINGLING?
Nerves have very reliable patterns of function and symptoms that help pin point the problem areas. The median nerve provides sensation to the thumb, index, long, and half of ring finger. Numbness and tingling in these fingers usually indicates there is pinching in the median nerve.
Identifying the location of the pinching is more difficult and is usually done with a combination of imaging studies, nerves studies, and physical exam. The most common cause of a pinched median nerve is carpal tunnel syndrome.
The ulnar nerve provides sensation to half of the ring finger, and the pinky. Numbness and tingling in these fingers indicates pinching of the ulnar nerves. The most common location for pinching is at the elbow, also known as cubital tunnel syndrome.
The radial nerve provides sensation to the majority of the back of the hand. Numbness and tingling in these fingers indicates pinching of the radial nerve, however, problems with this nerve are much less common than the median and ulnar nerve. Pinching most frequently occurs at the wrist and forearm.
In some situations these nerves may be pinched in other locations including the neck or spine and cause similar symptoms.
NUMBNESS AND TINGLING PROCEDURE
Procedures for numbness and tingling are offered once a formal diagnosis has been made. Most patients suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome. The incisions for these procedures are reviewed in their individual sections. You can learn about them by clicking in each link. In the images below you can see the incisions used for the different carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel procedures. For those who suffer from other syndromes like radial tunnel or pronator syndrome, the treatment options are more complex and Dr. Rueda prefers to discuss them during the office visit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Nerve studies can be very useful for helping diagnose the cause of numbness and tingling. These are called nerve conduction study and EMG. In some cases the cause can be very clear from physical examination alone, and Dr. Rueda may postpone obtaining these additional studies.