My thumb is numb

[stomachmonkey]

Seriously.

Been getting a mild tingling for a week at the tip to one side.

Been getting progressively worse to the point I can't ignore it.

I do suffer from flare ups of carpal tunnel and my wrist is in some discomfort right now.

Can carpal tunnel do that? Make your thumb go numb? I think it's logical.

And no, I'm not googling it because all health related google searches come back with "you're gonna die of explosive cancerous cardiac anal wart aneurysms"

[sc_rufctr]

How are your blood sugar levels?

[Evans, Marv]

Probably not it, but a pinched nerve in the neck area can cause numb & tingling feelings in your fingers.

[porsche4life]

I’m with Marv. I’ll get a pinched nerve in my back and it makes my thumb and fingers numb. Worth going to see a spine cracker to get it lined out.

[RKDinOKC]

Chiropractor showed me one time that by using one of those manipulating clicker things on my back he could turn on and off the feeling in my hands or feet. Then told me how the places the nerves come out of your spin really effect your overall health because of the constrictions.

[Geronimo '74]

I agree with the comments from Marv, Sid and Richard.

See a chiropractor.
I go regularly, because I need it.
I was surprised how much issues originate and can be resolved from the neck.

[wdfifteen]

Ok Scot I googled it for you. A numb thumb is only a sign of anal warts. No cancer or aneurysms or death. So cheer up - you're an actual bad ass!

[GWN7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1rbQqGIZgw

For some reason my buddy the chiropractor didn't find this as funny.

It also could be nerve damage in your wrist or forearm caused by?

I had the same problem. It was caused by a tendon in my wrist.

See the bone Doc

[cabmandone]

A word of advice,
As I understand it, when you have numbness there is pressure against the nerve. Don't let this go on too long before having someone look at it. Pressure against a nerve can damage the nerve and result in long term damage.

[DanielDudley]

I try not to go to the chiropractor, but I wind up going when I need to anyway. I do get lower back pain, and I used to get very severe headaches associated with TMJ. I only went to a chiropractor because I had a chronic headache for so long that suicide started to seem like a good idea.

It takes a lot to get some people in the office. However, like a lot of professions, some chiropractors are much better than others. Get someone well recommended.

[stomachmonkey]

Been real busy lately so lots of mouse and keyboard usage.

Took 600mg of naproxen before bed and the wrist is better.

Occurs to me I have not used my inversion table since at least last week.

Maybe I'll go hang for a while.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

Probably not it, but a pinched nerve in the neck area can cause numb & tingling feelings in your fingers.

My wife has been dealing with this for a while now. Getting old has its challenges.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Been real busy lately so lots of mouse and keyboard usage.

Took 600mg of naproxen before bed and the wrist is better.

Occurs to me I have not used my inversion table since at least last week.

Maybe I'll go hang for a while.

Let us know if it goes away after that. I’ve considered getting a table.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

My wife has been dealing with this for a while now. Getting old has its challenges.

But I always say it beats the alternative.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

And no, I'm not googling it because all health related google searches come back with "you're gonna die of explosive cancerous cardiac anal wart aneurysms"

Funny, my google medical searches always come back with a dozen "buy our new miracle drug/herbal cure for (whatever your search) medical problem!"

I had carpel tunnel and carpel tunnel surgery, I'm not a doctor and everyone is different but for me it was the exact opposite, tingling in the fingertips but not the thumb.

Also had trigger thumb in the same hand about a year after surgery (getting old sucks), they offered me another surgery but I opted to try a thumb brace (OTC at walmart, CVS, etc.) and it went away after a month or two. Also tried cortisone shots to the thumb ligament (oh golly that was fun!) but it didn't seem to help.

[John Rogers]

I would suggest seeing a hand and wrist specialist. I have a very small section of a spur on the inside of my right wrist and if I twist or move my hand a certain way it can hurt terribly. I went to a wrist specialist and he had a small x-ray machine in his exam room that showed a very high resolution image on a large flat screen monitor. We could see a small bump when my hand/wrist were in a certain position. I got two cortisone shots about 6 weeks apart and so far no additional pain. He said if pain comes back he can make a small incision and remove the spur but only as a last resort. 8 years ago I had a problem with trigger finger and claw thumb and I had a hand specialist check it and she did surgery and after some short rehab, no more issues.

My point is.......go see a hand/wrist specialist and if necessary two opinions but get an expert doctor, NOT off topic forum specialists to make recommendations of what to do and that includes even me. That is why I covered what happened to me.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

My point is.......go see a hand/wrist specialist and if necessary two opinions but get an expert doctor, NOT off topic forum specialists to make recommendations of what to do and that includes even me. That is why I covered what happened to me.

John is right on with that advice, I was going to say you should see a specialist Dr. but forgot.
Did I mention it sucks getting old?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Let us know if it goes away after that. I’ve considered getting a table.

I've had one for a dozen years...use it when I tweak my lower back on occasion. It just depends on the nature of your back issues...bought mine from a coworker...his was upper back and the table didn't help him. For me, when I tweak mine, a 5 minute hang for a couple of days and I'm good .

[RKDinOKC]

Try pushing your head up as far as possible keeping your back and neck straight. Then kind of rock your head left and right on the top of your neck so it stretches the neck. It may even make some popping noises. That's one of the things my bone cracker told me if I experienced any extremity pain or numbness. Makes it go away quickly. There is also turning your head left and right as far as possible to stretch the muscles.