This post is for those of you who in the medical field, know someone in the medical field, or enjoy the medical field (even if you aren’t in it).
Starting last Friday (about 6 days now), the back of my left hand has been numb. The feeling is markedly different than if I had hit my funny bone. I would not describe the feeling as a tingling or pin pricking. It is similar in feeling to when the dermis is numbed with Emla Cream. There is little or no pain associated with it and there was no history to indicate why this might happen. The only other symptom is an on-again/off-again pain in my elbow.
I had a similar experience with the same hand over the summer, so this is the second time this has happened. In my previous experience, it resolved it self in a few days.
Taking ibuprofen has not had any discernable effect.
The area highlighted within the red region are where I notice the numbness. The area highlighted within the yellow region is where it feels the most numb.
Source: Henry Gray (1825–1861). Anatomy of the Human Body. 1918. The mucous sheaths of the tendons on the back of the wrist.
Click image to embiggen.
I’ve been to the health center to see a doctor. She has no idea what it could be and recommend that I go see a neurologist. I was somehow able to setup an appointment to see a neurologist tomorrow, so that’s what I’ll be doing in the morning.
I don’t know if you found anything out about what you were experiencing, but I have the exact same thing except on the back of my right hand (The skin only appear to be numb). The only other feeling that I have that I think is connected to it is if I flex my hand forward while stretching I get a very sharp pain in the ligaments where the numbness appears to be. Let me know if the came to any conclusions.
I have exactly the same thing as you Amanda. I have had it now for about
6 weeks. I went to the doctor yesterday and he just said it would eventually go
away, so I am hoping it will.
I have almost the same sensation on the back of my left hand. I too, had a similar experience about a year ago. I remember that it felt like I had rubber band around my wrist. This time, I notice the sensation the most when I am washing my hands and run my right hand over the back of my left hand. It doesn’t seem to be going away this time and has been present for a couple of months. I have not seen a doctor about it yet. I’m very interested to know what you find out about your numbness.
I woke up this morning with the same areas of numbness on the back of my right hand. It feels like I slept on it wrong but the numbness isn’t going away like it normally should. I’ll update if it goes away or I get some input from the medical field. This is very strange that there are other people who also have had this same region go numb for no apparent reason.
I just waited and eventually the feeling came back into my hand. It was quite gradual. Just wait it out and it will come back in most cases I think.
The numbness in my left hand seems to be getting better since my posting to this site in January. I hardly ever notice it now. I still don’t know what caused it.
For about 1 week now, I have had the EXACT numbness in the back of my left hand and I’m not exactly sure why it’s happening. I am a massage therapist though, so I’m first to wonder if it’s overuse. I’m wondering if Andrew Ferguson found out anything at the neurologist by now or not… please email me back at edcefalu@sbcglobal.net if you have. Starting to get concerned about this! Thanks!
I ended up getting some PT and it eventually went away. You can read all the updates here: http://andrewferguson.net/tag/case-of-the-numb-hand/
Thanks Andrew! This is exactly the same strange numbness I started feeling 2 days ago, when I became ill with a head cold. I’ve never felt anything like this and wondered if it was the signs of a pending stroke. Thank you for sharing about the physical therapy and I will follow up with it and notify you if it resolves after PT.
happy holidays from NYC
Hi.. This evening my left hand started feeling numb just like you described. Appreciate if you cud share what you doc says is the cause. .. Thanks
Hey Khoo, my doctor said it will resolve itself. So far it hasn’t and I’m learning to accept it. On some days it’s more numb than others. I can tell you this, I noticed it began happening after two key things: 1) I stopped lifting weights regularly, and 2) after a 2 week head cold I went through. I’ll post if I find a solution.
Hi Eddie, funny that you should mention the cold.,I had also just recovered from a bout of flu. I rock climb abt 1x per week but not been regular for a few weeks.