Ah....I think you've isolated this down to the "root" cause now. Good detective work nfn!

You still haven't consulted a doc about this???

That's a bit nuts.

Some of us don't go to the doctor every time we stub our toe or our left arm goes numb... :p

true, and many a widow / friend has stood on hillside throwing a flower into a hole.
Rika

He did spend a nice weekend with his left hand and a bottle of chianti... pretty sure he sent flowers.

I know when my finger hurts I like to soak it in cider.

This isn't related, but drinking a gallon of water each day may be overrated and, according to many health specialist, dangerous and result in hyperhydration. A gallon/day can be a lot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

Byron, I hope you and thumb are fully recovered.

Sherwood

When I feel my thumb go numb I pull it out of my a$$...