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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Numbness And Stiffness In The Fingers?

I suddenly felt numbness on my left finger tips and palm when I woke up last night. My fingers were stiff too n could hardly fold to form a fist. My whole left arm is aching too. Few hours have passed by and i still feel numb and stiff though now i can fold to form a fist. May I know what has happened?
Mon, 16 Jul 2018
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Neurologist,  's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

You likely comperssed the median and possibly ulnar nerve while asleep. This can happen and if the body does not adjust itself because it is too DROWSY or FATIGUED then, this can be the result. It is usually temporary, however, depending upon the exact position you had your arm and the part of the body that was compressing recovery can take minutes to hours. If you still do not have full control within a few more hours after the writing of YOUR QUESTION then, I would get an appointment with a neurologist sooner rather than later to try and avoid facing a chronic situation of weakness and sensory alterations. Also, try and figure out what happened that your body did not move enough (this is automatic throughout the night)....were you taking a medication that made you excessively drowsy, did you drink alcohol to excess which could've also caused you to lay overly still, etc. Try to correct whatever you believe caused your body not to adjust itself.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
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What Causes Numbness And Stiffness In The Fingers?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. You likely comperssed the median and possibly ulnar nerve while asleep. This can happen and if the body does not adjust itself because it is too DROWSY or FATIGUED then, this can be the result. It is usually temporary, however, depending upon the exact position you had your arm and the part of the body that was compressing recovery can take minutes to hours. If you still do not have full control within a few more hours after the writing of YOUR QUESTION then, I would get an appointment with a neurologist sooner rather than later to try and avoid facing a chronic situation of weakness and sensory alterations. Also, try and figure out what happened that your body did not move enough (this is automatic throughout the night)....were you taking a medication that made you excessively drowsy, did you drink alcohol to excess which could ve also caused you to lay overly still, etc. Try to correct whatever you believe caused your body not to adjust itself. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.