Tingling in arms and hands from funny bone, pinky, ring and middle AFTER drinking alcohol

by Matthew Harding
(South Africa)

Tingling in arms and hands after a binge.

Hello,

I came across this site looking for an answer or some type or direction to what i experience.

I drink maybe twice every two weeks, and it could be half a bottle of Brandy with coca cola. I smoke too.

The next day around late afternoon my arms and fingers tingle, ring finger, middle and pinky. Sometimes it lasts for a couple minutes and sometimes a half an hour. It never lasts more than a hour, i know it is my nerves (it think) because during the episode, if i take my left hand and tap my right arm underneath, where the funny bone is (not directly on it, just behind that spot) i can feel the tingling shoot up my arm to my fingers.

So this to me would rule out circulation? What could cause this? i have no idea why it happens when i drink alcohol. Dehydration ? if you have any possibilities could you please let me know? i would appreciate it.

It is quite annoying although i do worry sometimes about it. I also only get skipped heart beats or extra beats the day after i drink alcohol.

Thanks in advance.

Matthew

Hello Matthew,
Tapping on your funny bone, with a radiation to the hand, is called a Tinel's sign. It means that somewhere along the course of the ular nerve, from your neck to the hand, the nerve is being irritated. You are quite right: nerve not artery.

Frankly, I can't either see the connection with the alcohol. A bottle of brandy per month, isn't a huge amount of alcohol, but taking it in two binges like that is very detrimental. Rather quarter bottle every week? Or a shot a night! One!

The smoking too is probably unconnected. I won't lecture you on that, you know what it's doing to you! Get smart...

A tingle in the arm for half an hour twice a month doesn't particularly concern me. What you should be on the look out for is sensory changes (prick yourself with a pin, and see if there's a difference right and left), and weakness in your hand. If that starts happening, you'd better get to see a chiropractor, or doctor.

Of course, you know what they are going to tell you. If heavy drinking is what causes it, then...

I hope this contributes.

Dr B.
(BTW your grammar etc is excellent compared with the dribble I get from elsewhere in the world)