What Causes Sudden Loss Of Movements In The Thumb?

Posted on Mon, 26 Sep 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 Answered on

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My 27 year old's thumb just stopped working, he has had no injury, no discoloration, it just won't work. He noticed it this morning when he went to get dressed. Nothing like this has happened before

Answered by Dr. Vasudha (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Needs evaluation of cause with expert guidance

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for he query under health care magic.I have read it & understood your concern.
* Sudden loss of movements in thumb in a young person without any injury or discoloration, is mostly due to compression on nerve supplying the part . This compression can be at various levels..
- A local pressure due to faulty body posture while asleep, can cause temporary loss of movements with numbness after getting up in morning.
- Nerve pressure at hand ( carpel tunnel syndrome) wrist joint, elbow joint, shoulder, cervical rib near collar bone or cervical spine cause such symptoms.
* If there is no relief after fomentation/ ice pack or light massage to the thumb.. please don't panic...the person needs an expert advise of an orthopedic surgeon to pin point the cause after detailed physical assessment & imaging investigations as per need.
* A cause specific management to relieve compression along with physiotherapy would solve his problem.
I hope the answer is both informative & useful to you. Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar