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What Causes Tingling Feeling In Left Arm And Hand?
Question: My wife woke up with tingling in her left arm and left hand (primarily in her hand). It's been a couple of hours and nothing has changed. She has no other symptoms. Should she go to the emergency room immediately?
Brief Answer:
Nerve compression due to incorrect sleeping posture
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thanks for your query.
Regarding the symptoms in your wife as mentioned in the post, kindly let us know about the following:
1. Any history of recent illness or injury/trauma to the shoulder, neck and back?
2. Sensation of tingling can be due to poor neuro-muscular co-ordination secondary to systemic illness. Is there is significant past history of systemic disease like Diabetes, Hypertension, Thyroid disorder, etc. ?
3. Any recent history of Stress, improper nutrition & lack of sleep?
4. Habit of smoking or alcohol consumption?
5. History of prolonged intake of any medication?
If your answer to the above mentioned questions is "NO", then the symptoms can be attributed to:
1. Nerve compression due to incorrect sleeping posture: tingling in arm and hand after waking up from sleep can be explained on the basis of it.
2. Para-spinal muscle spasm and entrapment of nerve fibers at the spinal region.
3. Inadequate hydration status & electrolyte imbalance of the body, or
4. Dietary deficiencies of certain nutrients like Iron, Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Folic acid, etc. which help in blood formation & nerve conduction.
Symptomatic relief can be obtained by intake of nervigenic agents (like Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folic acid) as well as multivitamin & multimineral supplements including iron, calcium & Vitamin D needs to be added in her diet.
Physiotherapy & postural exercise will also be helpful.
Clinical examination is important for diagnosis, so I will advise you to consult her doctor/ Neurologist for a proper clinical examination.
Certain investigations like complete blood count, serum electrolyte estimation, fresh estimation of blood pressure & blood sugar levels & nerve conduction studies will be helpful to rule out any pathological cause for the symptoms.
X ray & MRI of spine can also be carried out to detect any nerve entrapment.
Wishing your wife a Good Health.
Please let me know if I need to clarify further.
Take care.
Nerve compression due to incorrect sleeping posture
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thanks for your query.
Regarding the symptoms in your wife as mentioned in the post, kindly let us know about the following:
1. Any history of recent illness or injury/trauma to the shoulder, neck and back?
2. Sensation of tingling can be due to poor neuro-muscular co-ordination secondary to systemic illness. Is there is significant past history of systemic disease like Diabetes, Hypertension, Thyroid disorder, etc. ?
3. Any recent history of Stress, improper nutrition & lack of sleep?
4. Habit of smoking or alcohol consumption?
5. History of prolonged intake of any medication?
If your answer to the above mentioned questions is "NO", then the symptoms can be attributed to:
1. Nerve compression due to incorrect sleeping posture: tingling in arm and hand after waking up from sleep can be explained on the basis of it.
2. Para-spinal muscle spasm and entrapment of nerve fibers at the spinal region.
3. Inadequate hydration status & electrolyte imbalance of the body, or
4. Dietary deficiencies of certain nutrients like Iron, Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Folic acid, etc. which help in blood formation & nerve conduction.
Symptomatic relief can be obtained by intake of nervigenic agents (like Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folic acid) as well as multivitamin & multimineral supplements including iron, calcium & Vitamin D needs to be added in her diet.
Physiotherapy & postural exercise will also be helpful.
Clinical examination is important for diagnosis, so I will advise you to consult her doctor/ Neurologist for a proper clinical examination.
Certain investigations like complete blood count, serum electrolyte estimation, fresh estimation of blood pressure & blood sugar levels & nerve conduction studies will be helpful to rule out any pathological cause for the symptoms.
X ray & MRI of spine can also be carried out to detect any nerve entrapment.
Wishing your wife a Good Health.
Please let me know if I need to clarify further.
Take care.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Answered by
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