What Has Caused Intermittent Episodes Of Tingling Numbness Worsening Into Severe Pain In My Arm From Above The Elbow To My Fingers?

Posted on Wed, 25 Apr 2018

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

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 Answered on

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : I dont know if its relevant but I travel alot for work. I'm typically a fairly healthy 25 yr old female. I plan on going to an urgent care about this as soon as I'm near one but figured asking couldn't hurt. for the past couple of days my left arm has felt funny. I'm not sure how else to describe it. it's from just above my elbow and it feels like from that point below my arm sometimes goes numb and tingly. my hand and fingers sometimes fall asleep. it starts out annoying but gets painful. it actually woke me up last night and no matter how much shaking or flexing or hot/cold I put on it, it wouldn't go away. the pain was actually very bad. it went away on it's own after 20 minutes or so.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Probably nerve entrapment.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I think you're right about getting evaluated for the symptoms that you are experiencing.

Conditions to consider include compressed nerve at the elbow (ulnar nerve entrapment ), or less likely, impaired blood flow to your arm (peripheral vascular disease, etc. ).

A medical examination by your Doctor should give more information about the cause and further tests necessary for a correct diagnosis.

If the ulnar nerve entrapment is confirmed, decompressive surgery may be necessary.

Hope you found the answer helpful. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee