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TINGLING IN ARMS AND HANDS

(Keywords: tingling in arms and hands, tingling in legs and feet, chiropractic, dermatome, slipped disk, arm pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome)

Tingling is primarily a sign of nerve irritation or damage. That could be in the brain or spinal cord, but more usually it is in the neck, or trapped between the first rib and collar bone, or somewhere in the arm, for example at the "funny bone" and in the forearm, as in the carpal tunnel syndrome.

PARESTHESIAS

Tingling in arms and hands, as a general rule of thumb! sorry to be puny, is not something for which your doctor or chiropractor are likely to recommend you rush off and make a consultation. Having said that, an unknown symptom never experienced before needs to be taken more seriously.

However, neurological symptoms like tingling need to be attended to with greater concern. The neurological system is the most sensitive structure in the body, and early warnings are best heeded sooner rather than later.

The situation needs also be assessed wisely. If you are healthy, and you wake up tingling in your arm, I suggest you ignore it! But if you have a known heart condition, and the tingling is in your left arm, then obviously you shouldn't ignore it.

Likewise, if you have a TIA before, or have high blood pressure or diabetes, then tingling should be considered in a most serious light.

For you, on a chiropractic website, more important is that should you have had pain in your neck (or back, for that matter) for several days and now tingling in your arm or leg begins, then it is of the utmost importance that you immediately consult your chiropractor.

One common cause of tingling in the arm is a subluxated first rib. The condition is called a thoracic outlet syndrome in which the artery and nerve may be pinched in a triangle below the collarbone. The tingling is usually of a diffuse nature, rather than to one particular part of the arm, which is called a dermatomal pattern. Working with your hands above your shoulders (hanging washing) is immediately very fatiguing as both blood and nerve supply are limited.

A dermatomal pattern occurs when a nerve root is irritated in the neck, giving far more specific tingling (or pain) in the arm. For example,

C5 dermatome

In the C5 dermatome the tingling is felt on the side of the upper arm, and perhaps the side of the lower arm. Sometimes you may have tingling in arms and hands, but that is more typical of another condition. If it affects the motor nerve, then you will be prone to tennis elbow, and weak Biceps and Deltoid muscles.

In the early stages of an irritated nerve in the neck, the skin becomes hyper-sensitive (more sensitive, if you rub your arm, or try pricking it with a pin), but later if you neglect the tingling it will become numb.

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New research has demonstrated that the cartilage in the small joints in the neck are dependent on movement for the their nutrition. Fixations within these joints starve the cartilage of oxygen and nutrients, and cause the build up of noxious waste products. These may irritate the nerve, causing tingling in the arm.

Arthritic changes within the foramen where the nerve emerges is another cause of tingling and pain in the arm. It could also be caused by a slipped disk ...

C6 dermatome

Classically the tingling in arms and hands will reach into the thumb and forefinger.

C7 and C8 dermatomes

The C7 and C8 nerves emerge from the lower neck, and will cause tingling in the middle finger (C7) and the ring and little finger (C8).

The most common muscle affected in a neck condition is the triceps, an elbow extensor, usually when the C7 nerve is severely irritated. Doing press-ups will be difficult - that arm will tire very quickly.

Tingling in arms and hands is not the only sensation that may be caused. You may also have numbness, weakness and ARM PAIN ... The pain is of a deep aching nature, and can be very severe, and is often worst at night.

Placing your arm on your head, the so-called shoulder abduction relief sign, or making a windmill motion with your arm may relieve the tingling in arms and hands.

For more information about NECK PAIN ANATOMY , or the affect of neck pain and tingling in the arm on society, NECK PAIN ... click on these links. If you are eager to know about chiropractic treatment of tingling in arms and hands, Click here. NECK PAIN TREATMENT ...

Anxiety

Tingling and pain in the arms and hands raises a great deal of anxiety and concern. You can submit questions via CONTACT, some of which will be shown here:

Joint fixations in the neck

Stiff joints in the neck are probably the most common cause of tingling in the arms and hands. These are the result of an injury (for example WHIPLASH CHIROPRACTIC ...) or an improper movement or position. We are often consulted my people with neck pain after sleeping in the upright position for example, or having a child sitting astride the neck. For more about joint fixations, or subluxations as we chiropractors call them, Click here. CHIROPRACTIC SUBLUXATION ...

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CTS is another fairly common cause of tingling in the arms and hands. It usually starts in the thumb, index and middle finger, but may extend into the arm, and then the other arm.

Tingling in the legs and feet

Of course the general principles of the arms apply also to the legs. Irritated nerves in the lumbar spine by a

slipped disk ,

Lumbar Facet Syndrome , or a

SacroIliac Joint syndrome

could have a similar effect, with tingling and pain, and possibly weakness in the legs and feet.

The most common sciatica refers to the outside of the foot and the small toe. If there is weakness you will have difficulty standing on one foot and raising your heel from the ground.

For more about TINGLING IN FEET AND LEGS, click here. TINGLING IN FEET AND LEGS ...

An Aside: Does your Chiropractor go the extra mile for you? Really care, try hard to diagnose the cause of your tingling in arms and hands and feet; you know s/he is doing his/her very best to help maintain a nuggety problem? How about a small Christmas gift? A bottle of wine ... or perhaps a book from our Inspirational Chiropractic books.

Said wife of one New Jersey chiropractor: "I can't predict how fast Tom will read Bats in my Belfry , but last time he read Frog in my Throat non-stop. He hasn't read anything like that for pleasure, cover to cover, as long as I have known him."

And of course, if you buy one of these books now, you could read them first!

CHIROPRACTIC CONDITIONS ...

Multiple Sclerosis or better known perhaps as MS.

Finally, we should add that any disease that affects the central nervous system can cause tingling in the arms and hands, and the legs for that matter. For example, alcoholism poisons the nervous system, mainly by causing a deficiency of vitamin B12 (also cause Pernicious Anemia). Diabetes, tumours, stroke, TIAs and diabetes can affect the nervous system causing tingling in the arms and hands and legs.

A fairly rare disease called Multiple Sclerosis can cause tingling in the extremities. For more information about Multiple Sclerosis follow this link. MSSYMPTOMS ...

There are many neurological conditions that cause tingling in arms and hands and feet and face. For more interesting and informative pages, click here. TINGLING IN ARMS AND HANDS ... serious low fat-diet disease.

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