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Left hand keeps going numb

Acorn

Acorn

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jan 2, 2009
2,644
358
macrumors
My left hand keeps going numb. it starts off at my pinky fingertip, it starts to tingle then eventually one by one that whole side of my hand goes numb. if i leave my arm straight it goes away but if I bend my arm or rest my elbow within seconds my hand goes numb again. This has been going on about 2 weeks. My hand and fingertips are numb all the time.

does anyone know anything about this (pinched nerve?) or anything I can do to make it go away permently?
 
This is one issue I could probably comment on but instead I sincerely believe you need to seek medical help from a doctor who isn't on the internet, mac forum or not.
 
I had the exact same thing a few years ago. The left side of one hand would go numb, to the center of my middle finger. Went away when arm was straight, but slowly.
The nerve that controls that sector of your hand is being pinched, most likely in your elbow.
I let it slide and wound up damaging the nerve and it took 2 YEARS to heal fully only because I continued to abuse it.
By all means see a doctor if it bothers you, but if it IS the same thing there is nothing that can be done short term.
 
Most likely a pinched nerve or something since it goes away when you straighten your arm, if you are over 35 id def go see a doctor for the hell of it though.
 
Because you said that it starts at your pinky finger, I think it might have to do with the ulnar nerve. Somewhere along the way from your shoulder to your hand, it's getting pinched. I'd get to your doctor and have him evaluate you to see what's what though. I'd also get a specialist referral so that they can evaluate you further. If my recent Carpal Tunnel Surgery taught me anything its to never wait to get help when you're in pain. My doctor told me that had I not had it a month ago, then by December I would have caused permanent nerve damage to my median nerves.
 
arrgh I hate doctors. thanks for the advice everyone. sorry you have permanent damage Str8edgepunker.

I really didnt want to go. I was hoping it would be temporary or go away. To see if it was my elbow I rested by wrist on the counter and my hand went numb again. dont know if it was because my arm was bent though. arrgh so frustrating. it better not be a permanent thing because it is annoying as hell.
 
I've had the exact same thing. It's the ulnar nerve, and I needed to have an elbow brace keep my arm straight when I slept. It eventually returned to normal, but it took about 3 months.

You need to see a doctor though, to make sure it isn't something else.
 
Sorry you hate doctors, OP, but this is one problem that would be easily addressed by a simple office visit. Many physicians want nothing more than to make you well. Our system in the US, unfortunately, gives people a bad taste in their mouths sometimes.

I will not diagnose over the internet. Go see someone, even an urgent care clinic would be fine. Don't wait on it too long, the kind of injury you are describing suggests a problem that may not alleviate itself if you "just leave it alone".
 
Wirelessly posted (Nokia 5800 Tube XpressMusic : Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.4; U; Series60/5.0 Nokia5800d-1/21.0.101; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 ) AppleWebKit/413 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/413)

'Hi, I'm not doctor, but I play one on the interwebz!'

Go see a doctor, or you may end up typing with one hand for all the wrong reasons. :eek:
 
r.j.s said:
I've had the exact same thing. It's the ulnar nerve, and I needed to have an elbow brace keep my arm straight when I slept. It eventually returned to normal, but it took about 3 months.

You need to see a doctor though, to make sure it isn't something else.
Click to expand...

It's likely this, OP. But definitely see a doctor.
I had the same thing last year and it takes a very long time to fully heal. Even now I get it when I'm on the phone for too long or sleep with my arm under the pillow for too many nights in a row.

Basically the whole ulnar nerve thing has a massive design flaw. Send a bug report.
 
thanks guys. its weird it doesnt feel like pins and needles when something falls asleep. it actually feels numb. I will make an appointment. If I need a brace I can deal with that. Just dont want an operation.
 
Acorn said:
thanks guys. its weird it doesnt feel like pins and needles when something falls asleep. it actually feels numb. I will make an appointment. If I need a brace I can deal with that. Just dont want an operation.
Click to expand...

Yup, sounds about right. FWIW I only got pins and needles after sleeping with my left arm bent, but if the elbow was bent during the day it would just lose sensation. Unnoticeably too. Which I guess is the whole point in losing sensation.
 
Acorn said:
thanks guys. its weird it doesnt feel like pins and needles when something falls asleep. it actually feels numb. I will make an appointment. If I need a brace I can deal with that. Just dont want an operation.
Click to expand...

Numb is right. When I had it I could stick a needle in and not feel it. As for "doctor on the internet" charges, most offer what they know but are good enough to cover your well-being by suggesting a doctor. And whether you like them or not, doctors will help you or at least verify what a lot are saying here.
 
this whole idea could work in your favor. if needed you don't figure out what is going on, you could always give yourself the stranger. it could change your entire outlook on the behavior. Lloyd
 
Acorn said:
thanks guys. its weird it doesnt feel like pins and needles when something falls asleep. it actually feels numb. I will make an appointment. If I need a brace I can deal with that. Just dont want an operation.
Click to expand...

See a doctor. Prompt action now could save you from having an operation later.
 
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