Left hand going numb

[amae28]

I saw the other post about Angela's legs going to sleep, and it sparked my interest to find out why my left hand is going numb all the time. I know it is probably due to my scoliosis, but it has just gotten really weird. The outer part of my hand (like pinkie to middle finger plus some of my palm) goes numb almost every day. It is still functionable but more than anything just annoying. Once it goes numb, it will stay tingly at least the rest of the day. Does anyone else have this problem? I haven't had surgery and my curves are T:43, L:38. (Standard S-curve). Is there anything that can be done about this?

Abbie

[flowerpower]

Weird...I have something similar that happens but it is just the tip/top joint of pinkie, ring & middle fingers of left hand. It doesn't go completely numb, just tingly numb and the temperature of those fingers will feel cooler compared to the other fingers. Like you, I have scoli but have not had surgery. This started occuring after I injured/strained my left arm. The inside part of the elbow joint will occasionally feel tender & to me looks and feels somewhat swollen compared to right arm. I feel it is scoli related, esp. since I have been feeling alot of neck strain lately, mostly on the left side. Don't know what to do about it, I usually will try stretching & flexing if it gets too annoying.

Renee

[sweetness514]

I also have been getting numbness in both my hands when I get pain in my thoracic screws, ever since my last surgery almost a year ago.

My big toe on my left foot goes completely numb too, and I wonder what could be the cause. It's a weird sensation to say the least.

[SandyC]

amae28,
I could very well be a problem with the nerves in your neck. I also had the same problem, along with pain in my neck. I had fusion and plates put in at C5/C6/C7 and have had no problem since

[scoliocolorado]

I have never heard of someone's hand going numb due to scoliosis. That sounds like it is something related to nerves in your neck.

[green m&m]

could be due to compression of nerves in your neck, brachial plexus... or the ulnar nerve.

the pain distribution you described is where the ulnar nerve innervates to. Does the pain ever radiate elsewhere?

Do you lean on your elbow a lot? The ulnar nerve runs under your elbow (where you hit the 'funny bone') and it can get compressed if you lean on it wrong... it happened to me for a while.

I have numbness down my left arm but that's due to spinal nerve root tumors and tumors on my brachial plexus.

[amae28]

Thanks for all of the replies- I definitely don't feel alone in the tingly/numb hand category anymore!
My neck and hand don't hurt- in fact my neck feels perfectly fine. Nothing is wrong with my neck that I know of, my scoliosis stops in the thoracic area. It could be that I lean on my elbow a lot, but it goes numb when I'm not leaning on it too. So, I don't know. I have an appointment at the begginning of January with a new doctor because I might have to have surgery due to a lot of pain in my thoracic spine. Maybe he'll have something to say about the tingly hand too.

Abbie

[green m&m]

It could be that I lean on my elbow a lot, but it goes numb when I'm not leaning on it too.

Sometimes the ulnar nerve can get entrapped, it's called the Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

Oh, I forgot to mention before but I get flare ups of numbness due to ulnar nerve compression if I keep my elbows bent for too long (like while sleeping)

[flowerpower]

could be due to compression of nerves in your neck, brachial plexus... or the ulnar nerve.

the pain distribution you described is where the ulnar nerve innervates to. Does the pain ever radiate elsewhere?

Do you lean on your elbow a lot? The ulnar nerve runs under your elbow (where you hit the 'funny bone') and it can get compressed if you lean on it wrong... it happened to me for a while.

I have numbness down my left arm but that's due to spinal nerve root tumors and tumors on my brachial plexus.

Interesting, it seems the more neck pain/issues I have, the more my left arm bothers me. When it first started, it ached from shoulder to elbow, then a weird, achey, tingly, almost electrical sensation from elbow to fingertips.

Yes, I do lean on my left elbow alot, I've noticed. Especially when on the computer but also, I sleep alot on my left side, with that arm bent...makes sense now that that could be the cause of the problem. I'll try to adjust and hopefully that will help somewhat, thanks alot!

Renee

[tonibunny]

Hiya, exactly the same thing happens to me, so I asked my doctor about it last time I went for a scoliosis check up.

In my case it's due to a small bone spur in my neck and it's not anything to worry about, but I'll need to keep an eye on it in case it gets worse.

You're right though - it is annoying!!