Shooting Finger Pain and Numbness

Shooting finger pain and numbness are vague symptoms that can mean any number of health issues. For the most part, the condition may arise due to overwork or overuse of the hands. If you’ve suddenly exposed your hand to manual labor even after just a few hours, it’s likely that the pain and numbness will occur.

Some people also wake up with their hands and fingers feeling numb – this might be because they have placed weight on the hand, disrupting blood flow. This is the ‘pins and needles’ sensation. The good news is that this is usually a temporary reaction and will go away over time.

Routine Finger Pain and Numbness

What if the finger pain and numbness occurs on a routine basis or several times in a week? Chances are you’re doing something that triggers the condition. Although there may be no direct and immediate cause, some activities can cause hand damage accumulating over time, leading to frequent issues of finger pain and numbness.

Possible Causes

Here are some possible causes of the condition and the risks of getting them:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 

Common among writers, seamstresses or basically anyone engaged in repetitive motion with their hands, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be quite painful. For the most part, the numbness centers along the thumb, index, and middle finger. The condition is treatable with the help of a good massage therapist and the use of wearable items to help support the hand.

Arthritis

Common among older individuals and those who use their hands for hard physical labor or repetitive motions, arthritis often comes with pain. The condition results from swollen joints or the grinding of the joint ends so that there’s no longer support in between. Conditions like these are often treated with the help of medications.

Pinched Nerve

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome results from a pinched nerve in the wrist area. A Cervical Radiculopathy, however, which can also lead to pain and numbness of the fingers is located in a different area entirely. It’s also characterized by a ‘pinched nerve’ but along the neck area. The pinched nerve must be one that services the hand – hence the numbness. Since the neck area is particularly vulnerable, it’s crucial to first have the area examined before making any manipulation.

Diagnosis

A professional needs to check finger pain and numbness to ensure that there is an accurate diagnosis. Once the condition starts to affect your life negatively, it’s time to stop ignoring the issue and visit a doctor as much as possible.

Diagnosis often involves the use of MRI or CT scan to see the nerves, tendons, muscles, and bones involved. It also bears remembering that labor-induced pain and numbness usually involves both hands since they’re probably getting the same amount of work.

For pinched nerves, however, only specific areas may be involved. Other symptoms together with finger pain and numbness may lead to a different diagnosis entirely.

Other signs to watch out for include slurred speech, confusion, and difficulty breathing. If any of these occur, go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.

Sources:

http://www.medicinenet.com/numbness_fingers/symptoms.htm

http://www.healthline.com/health/finger-numbness

http://www.livestrong.com/article/135408-finger-numbness-causes/