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What Causes Tingly Numbness In Arm And Intermittent Burning Sensation?
Question: Hey there. Lately i have been experiencing liss of circulation and tingly numbness in my left arm and fingers when my arm is slightly raised or even just bent up a bit. It loses circulation extrememly easily when im sleeping i ofteb wake up and my hand is in pain and it burns from most likely an hour or more of lost circulation. I cant sleep even on my right side with my arm hanging down without the circulation being lost. This had started about a week ago and seams to have worsened now as the week has progressed. It worries me. I even lose circulation when i rake at work as i am right handed and my left hand is usually positioned at the top of the rake. My left hand also seams to get cold a lot easier while i am working outside as well. I would be very thankful for a diagnosis and to know whether or not medical attention is necessary. Thankyou
Brief Answer:
Artery or nerve disease possible, medical attention necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thank you coming to HCM.
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the troubles you are experiencing.
The symptoms you are describing could be indeed to insufficient blood flow, as indicated by the exacerbation of the symptoms when the limb is raised, during work and it being colder compared to the other limb.
That would call for an evaluation of blood flow by a doctor, first looking for clinical signs such as the pulse being feeble on the left, blood pressure difference between the right and left arm, looking for pallor and cold skin on the left limb. If the physical exam confirms such signs then a vascular surgeon consult is necessary and tests like duplex ultrasound to visualise blood flow and the site of stenosis (narrowing).
The cause could be an embolus (a clot coming through the circulation from another site) or compression of the vessel, a local atherosclerotic narrowing of the vessel at your age is less probable, usually in older diabetic patients and in the lower limbs. It is anyway a cause for concern and should be evaluated as soon as possible.
If there are no signs from those mentioned about and blood flow is normal then similar pain and numbness could be caused by peripheral nerve compression which has also to be confirmed by tests like ENG (nerve conduction study). So it also warrants medical attention though not as urgent as artery disease.
There are also situations where both blood vessels as well as nerve compression could be present like a condition called thoracic outlet syndrome which could also explain the symptoms.
I hope my opinion was expressed in an understandable manner and was helpful to you. I remain at your disposal for further follow-up questions.
Artery or nerve disease possible, medical attention necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thank you coming to HCM.
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the troubles you are experiencing.
The symptoms you are describing could be indeed to insufficient blood flow, as indicated by the exacerbation of the symptoms when the limb is raised, during work and it being colder compared to the other limb.
That would call for an evaluation of blood flow by a doctor, first looking for clinical signs such as the pulse being feeble on the left, blood pressure difference between the right and left arm, looking for pallor and cold skin on the left limb. If the physical exam confirms such signs then a vascular surgeon consult is necessary and tests like duplex ultrasound to visualise blood flow and the site of stenosis (narrowing).
The cause could be an embolus (a clot coming through the circulation from another site) or compression of the vessel, a local atherosclerotic narrowing of the vessel at your age is less probable, usually in older diabetic patients and in the lower limbs. It is anyway a cause for concern and should be evaluated as soon as possible.
If there are no signs from those mentioned about and blood flow is normal then similar pain and numbness could be caused by peripheral nerve compression which has also to be confirmed by tests like ENG (nerve conduction study). So it also warrants medical attention though not as urgent as artery disease.
There are also situations where both blood vessels as well as nerve compression could be present like a condition called thoracic outlet syndrome which could also explain the symptoms.
I hope my opinion was expressed in an understandable manner and was helpful to you. I remain at your disposal for further follow-up questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Thankyou that helps considerably! Could such symptoms be caused by vericose veins? I have them in both legs and my skin on both legs is brown from the blood from the stressed veins its a condition ive had for years. The doctors told me they couldnt do much abut them because they would just come back againo
Brief Answer:
Unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
I am glad to have been of help, thank you for your feedback.
Regarding your question about varicose veins, I don't think that is the cause. Varicose veins in the upper limbs are extremely rare. Also pain from venous insufficiency differently from arterial one, would be eased by work and by raising the limb (muscle contractions and gravity would facilitate flow through the veins).
There are cases of deep venous thrombosis of the upper limb which could produce pain and numbness, but usually accompanied by signs like swelling of the arm, low grade fever. Also in most cases it's a complication of a venous catheter, cancer, trauma. From the fewer cases without such causes most are related to compression by the same thoracic outlet syndrome I mentioned before, so the evaluation process is pretty much the same, the exams as well duplex ultrasound and ENG.
Feel free to ask further questions.
Unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
I am glad to have been of help, thank you for your feedback.
Regarding your question about varicose veins, I don't think that is the cause. Varicose veins in the upper limbs are extremely rare. Also pain from venous insufficiency differently from arterial one, would be eased by work and by raising the limb (muscle contractions and gravity would facilitate flow through the veins).
There are cases of deep venous thrombosis of the upper limb which could produce pain and numbness, but usually accompanied by signs like swelling of the arm, low grade fever. Also in most cases it's a complication of a venous catheter, cancer, trauma. From the fewer cases without such causes most are related to compression by the same thoracic outlet syndrome I mentioned before, so the evaluation process is pretty much the same, the exams as well duplex ultrasound and ENG.
Feel free to ask further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Oh ok thankyou once again! I havent experienced any other symptoms besides the tingling and numness in the lower arm and fingers. The pain only happens from extended periods where my arm is bent or raised during sleep. I have one more question. I recently started an oilfield job and have been doing hard labour. Previously i was a fronthouse manager and a cook at a bar and didnt have to do anything i would call hard labour such as heavy lifting or hard repetitive actions. My mother said it may be causing it. Would that have anything to do with it?
Brief Answer:
Not as sole reason.
Detailed Answer:
It can contribute according to the cause, but not be the sole reason. Certain traumas, pressure or stretching of certain nerves could trigger the symptoms related to damage of that nerve. For example leaning on your elbow for long periods, or prolonged activities requiring to bend your elbow, stretch the ulnar nerve at the elbow level causing ulnar neuropathy, but this is a risk factor in a already predisposed person. Same goes about overuse or leaning on the wrist leading to carpal tunnel syndrome.
The causes can be multiple really, the important thing is to cross out causes which could lead to consequences like vessel involvement, and then once that is excluded if the symptoms persist perform the ENG to identify the involved nerve and to discuss about actions which are harmful to that particular nerve or other predisposing factors.
Hopefully things will work out for the best.
Not as sole reason.
Detailed Answer:
It can contribute according to the cause, but not be the sole reason. Certain traumas, pressure or stretching of certain nerves could trigger the symptoms related to damage of that nerve. For example leaning on your elbow for long periods, or prolonged activities requiring to bend your elbow, stretch the ulnar nerve at the elbow level causing ulnar neuropathy, but this is a risk factor in a already predisposed person. Same goes about overuse or leaning on the wrist leading to carpal tunnel syndrome.
The causes can be multiple really, the important thing is to cross out causes which could lead to consequences like vessel involvement, and then once that is excluded if the symptoms persist perform the ENG to identify the involved nerve and to discuss about actions which are harmful to that particular nerve or other predisposing factors.
Hopefully things will work out for the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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